Eastern District of Missouri
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Vice President of Synergy Concepts Pleads Guilty to Stealing FundsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Steven Walters, 52, of St. Peters, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. Walters appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for December 19, 2019.
According to court documents, Walters began his employment with Synergy Concepts Inc. on or about August 2001. In 2014, Walters was the Vice-President and Secretary of Synergy Concepts Inc. Defendant Walters, on behalf of Synergy Concepts Inc., acted as the co-trustee for a company retirement plan that was funded from voluntary contributions by the employees. From May of 2015 through August 2016, Defendant Walters, as an officer of Synergy Concepts, Inc., failed to transfer withheld funds destined for the retirement plan and instead diverted the funds for other purposes, including his own personal use. Defendant Walters did knowingly embezzle, steal and unlawfully and willfully abstract and convert to his own use the money, funds, securities, premiums, properties and other assets of the employee pension plan that resulted in a total loss of $72,817.27.
“Steven Walters abused his former fiduciary position as Trustee of the Synergy Concepts Retirement Plan by diverting employee contributions and loan repayments for his personal use. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration to protect the integrity of employee benefit plans,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Three People Indicted on Attempted Carjacking in which James Anthony Sapone was Shot and KilledRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Demario Hunter, 33, of East St. Louis, IL; Keombra James, 25, of East St. Louis, IL; and Surrayah Hill, 21, of East St. Louis, IL were indicted last week by a federal grand jury for attempted carjacking in the 3400 block of Iowa Street in St. Louis, MO during which James Anthony Sapone was shot and killed. The three defendants were also indicted on weapon charges relating to the March 18, 2019, incident. The indictment was unsealed September 23, 2019, once all defendants were arrested.
If convicted, the charge of attempted carjacking resulting in death carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the imposition of death. The charge of murder in the course of a crime of violence also carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the imposition of death. The charge of possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a minimum penalty of ten years imprisonment. All three defendants were charged with each of those crimes. Additionally, Hunter faces a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment. All charges carry a potential fine of $250,000 per count.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“Gun violence and carjackings remain top priorities of this office. We continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prevent these senseless acts of violence but, when they occur, we are committed to holding each and every perpetrator accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Jeffrey B. Jensen, United States Attorney following the indictment’s unsealing.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistance was provided by St. Louis County Police and Illinois Department of Corrections Parole.
California Man Sentenced to 174 months for Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign PlacesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Michael Bruce McDonald, 79, of Huntington Beach, CA, was sentenced to 174 months in federal prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. McDonald appeared before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court proceedings and documents, McDonald is a former police officer from California. In 2001 he was found guilty of sexually abusing a child. He moved to the Philippines in 2009, and a short time later married. Three of his wife’s nieces moved in with them - all under ten years of age.
McDonald started producing child pornography pictures of the children and one of their friends. He sexually abused two of the children. He posted some of the images in an online account and sent images by email. McDonald sent child pornography images of the children to an undercover officer in St. Louis. The officer was able to identify McDonald and locate him in the Philippines. McDonald was indicted in the Eastern District of Missouri and was sent back to the United States to be prosecuted.
St. Louis County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Man Indicted for Robbing the St. Louis Community Credit UnionRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Shayne McKee, 27, of St. Louis, MO, was indicted today on three felony counts including bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm stemming from the armed robbery of the St. Louis Community Credit Union located at 7345 West Florissant Avenue in Jennings, Missouri.
According to the indictment, on May 5, 2018, McKee and an accomplice entered the St. Louis Community Credit Union on West Florissant Avenue in Jennings, Missouri. Once inside, McKee announced a robbery, pulled a gun on bank employees, and demanded money. Ultimately, McKee and his accomplice left with U.S. currency belonging to and in the custody of the credit union.
If convicted, the charge of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; felon in possession carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed and a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Saint Louis County Police Department are investigating this case.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
St. Charles Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Heroin that Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Anthony Marion, a/k/a “Bird,” 36, of St. Charles, Missouri, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for heroin distribution that resulted in death from the use of such heroin. Marion appeared today before the Honorable Rodney W. Sippel.
According to court documents, co-defendant Lauren Martinez agreed to provide two individuals with heroin on February 26, 2016. She contacted her source, Marion, who met Martinez in the parking lot of a White Castle restaurant in St. Charles, Missouri. There, Marion provided heroin to Martinez, who then provided it to the victim. At the time she distributed the heroin, Martinez described it as “strong” and cautioned the victim to be careful. During a later interview, Martinez admitted that she knew multiple people who had overdosed on heroin.
Despite learning of the individual’s death, Martinez and Marion continued to distribute heroin in the subsequent weeks and months. As part of the on-going investigation into the heroin-related death, investigators arranged and made a controlled purchased of heroin from Marion and Martinez in March 2016. On May 9, 2016, Marion was arrested for possession of heroin and a firearm.
Marion pleaded guilty to one count of distributing heroin resulting in death in February and Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of heroin distribution in February and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13.
The O’Fallon Police Department and the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task investigated this case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Transportation of Undocumented Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
St. Louis - Rene Flores-Calderon, 35, of Mexico, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for transportation of undocumented aliens who had come to, entered and remained in the United States in violation of law and to his illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, on August 2, 2018, a Missouri State Highway Patrolman stopped a maroon Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Interstate 44, just east of the Franklin County line, in St. Louis County, Missouri. The suburban contained 10 undocumented adult aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador and three undocumented unaccompanied minor children. During the vehicle stop, Flores-Calderon fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the next day.
All of the passengers admitted they had illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona over the last month and were traveling to various destinations across the United States.
Flores-Calderon knew the passengers were undocumented aliens in the United States in violation of the law and that he transported the passengers within the United States with the intent to further the aliens’ unlawful presence.
Interviews were conducted of the passengers in the vehicle. In summary, they stated that they had crossed at various points into the United States illegally. Flores-Calderon picked them up at various locations in Arizona and drove eastbound. Several of the passengers indicated that they or members of their family had paid a smuggler to get them into the country and to their destination. Others indicated they paid or were going to pay the Flores-Calderon to transport them to various cities in the United States.
Flores-Calderon had previously been deported from the United States following convictions for illegal entry and reentry into the United States at least six times.
“Today’s sentence reflects our firm and lasting commitment to stopping the illicit flow of human beings who are treated as nothing more than cargo,” said Katherine Greer, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City. “HSI, and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant against those with obvious disregard for our nation’s laws, and we will continue to seek out such people and place them before the bar of justice.”
Homeland Security, Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), St. Louis County Police Department and the Eureka Police Department investigated this case.
Five Indicted for Stealing Copper Wire from Cellular TowersRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Christina Weaver, 40, of Collinsville, IL; Wendell Ragsdale, 45, of Springfield, IL; Bradley Quinelle Warren, 32, of Collinsville, IL; Taylor D. James, 20, of Collinsville, IL; and Haley S. James, 21, of Collinsville, IL; were indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to maliciously interfere with communication lines by entering onto cellular tower sites.
According to the Indictment, between April 3, 2018 and August 1, 2018, Weaver, Ragsdale, Warren, Taylor James and Haley James conspired to obtain money by stealing copper grounding bars and copper wiring from cellular telephone towers and thereafter selling the stolen copper to metal salvage dealers in exchange for cash. They entered onto over 80 cellular tower sites located in 21 different jurisdictions thereby damaging cellular communications systems in the affected areas.
Defendants Warren and Weaver are also charged with one count of malicious interference with communications lines for their role in stealing copper grounding bars and copper wiring from a cellular telephone tower in Montgomery County, Missouri.
If convicted, the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the malicious interference with communications lines carries a penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay McClure-Hartman is handling the case for the United States Attorney’s Office.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Director of a Law Enforcement Association Sentenced for Stealing FundsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Paul Kesterson, 48, of Washington, MO, who was employed as a Lieutenant with the Washington, Missouri Police Department, was sentenced to two months and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,556 for stealing funds. Kesterson appeared today before U.S. District Judge Webber.
According to court documents, between February 1, 2018 and April 2019, Kesterson served as the Director of the St. Louis Area Law Enforcement Exploring Association (STLEEA) and as a Lieutenant with the Washington, Missouri Police Department. As the Director of STLEEA, Kesterson handled all of the finances and managed the Explorer Academy training. He was issued a credit and debit card so he could draw upon funds of the STEELA checking account for the benefit of the organization. After the Assistant Director received a phone call from U.S. Bank regarding a late credit card payment, an investigation was conducted regarding Kesterson’s use of the STLEEA account, as well as a Washington Police Department bank account controlled by Kesterson on behalf of STLEEA. Financial records revealed that Kesterson had been using the credit/debit card to make personal purchases. During the instant investigation regarding the STLEEA U.S. Bank account activity from 2018 to April 2019, no other members of the Washington Police Department or any other law enforcement agencies were found to be involved in Kesterson’s criminal activity.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Washington Police Department and O’Fallon, Missouri Police Department.
Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Committing PerjuryRead the Press Release
Bailey Colletta, 26, a former police officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Missouri to one count of making false statements to a federal grand jury about her knowledge of the arrest and assault of a fellow SLMPD police officer, who was working undercover in downtown St. Louis during protests following the 2017 acquittal of a former SLMPD officer on a state murder charge. Colletta’s co-defendants, SLMPD officers Dustin Boone, Randy Hays, and Christopher Myers, remain under indictment on federal charges related to the assault and subsequent cover-up. They have pleaded not guilty.
According to the plea agreement, in addition to facing a maximum of five years in prison, Colletta must forfeit her law enforcement certification. A sentencing date has been set for December 13, 2019.
The trial of Boone, Hayes, and Myers is set for Dec. 2, 2019.
This case is being investigated by the St. Louis Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Janea Lamar of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Criminal Section.
Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Committing PerjuryRead the Press Release
Bailey Colletta, 26, a former police officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Missouri to one count of making false statements to a federal grand jury about her knowledge of the arrest and assault of a fellow SLMPD police officer, who was working undercover in downtown St. Louis during protests following the 2017 acquittal of a former SLMPD officer on a state murder charge. Colletta’s co-defendants, SLMPD officers Dustin Boone, Randy Hays, and Christopher Myers, remain under indictment on federal charges related to the assault and subsequent cover-up. They have pleaded not guilty.
According to the plea agreement, in addition to facing a maximum of five years in prison, Colletta must forfeit her law enforcement certification. A sentencing date has been set for Dec. 13. The trial of Boone, Hayes, and Myers is set for Dec. 2, 2019.
This case is being investigated by the St. Louis Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Janea Lamar of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Criminal Section.
Former St. Louis County Chief of Staff Sentenced for Pay to Play SchemeRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – William Miller, 54, of Richmond Heights, was sentenced to 15 months and three years supervised release for aiding and abetting former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger’s honest services wire fraud/bribery scheme. Miller appeared in front of U.S. District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel.
According to court documents and in Court statements, Miller was hired as Chief of Staff by then County Executive Stenger during December, 2017, and was responsible for primarily assisting Stenger in managing the day to day operations of St. Louis County Government, and supervising Stenger’s Executive Staff. Stenger also appointed Miller to the Board of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership during 2018. Stenger pled guilty on May 3, 2019 to 3 counts of honest services mail fraud/bribery relative to his scheme to defraud and deprive the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to his honest and faithful services through bribery and the concealment of material information. The purpose of the scheme was for Stenger to secretly use his official position to enrich himself through soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from individuals and their companies in exchange for favorable official action, including the awarding of County contracts and grants, and for individuals and their companies to enrich themselves and their companies by secretly obtaining favorable action for themselves and for their companies, through corrupt means.
The charge against Miller relates to his aiding and abetting Stenger’s criminal scheme, having taken official action to ensure that “Company One” and its principal owner obtained a 2019 state lobbying contract valued at approximately $200,000 from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. In aiding and abetting Stenger’s criminal scheme, Miller communicated with, and personally met with Sheila Sweeney, then the CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, in order to persuade and ensure that Sweeney and the Partnership Board, of which Miller was a member, awarded the lobbying contract to Company One, over a second lobbying firm which had also bid on the lobbying contract. In taking such official action in aid of Stenger’s criminal scheme, Miller deprived the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to his honest services as the County’s Chief of Staff and as a member of the Board of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Throughout his tenure as Chief of Staff, Miller actively participated in and aided and abetted Stenger’s criminal scheme relative to a number of Stenger’s political donors in order to maintain his position as Chief of Staff within Stenger’s administration.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating this case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Six People Indicted on Drug Conspiracy and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – A suppressed federal indictment was unsealed today charging six individuals with drug trafficking and firearm-related charges for the years 2018 to the present. The individuals and charges include:
- WILLIAM GOODLOW, 37, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin;
- MARCUS JERMAINE MOORE, 35, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin;
- CHRISTOPHER SANTEL MOORE, 33, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin;
- JEFFREY TREMAINE STIDMON, 37, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin;
- DURRELL BRENT JOHNSON, 33, charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin; marijuana distribution; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; being a felon in the possession of one or more firearms; and
- FLORA LOUISE JOHNSON, 31, charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. This indictment and today’s arrests are a continuation of the on-going investigation into drug trafficking, overdose deaths, homicides, and firearm offenses occurring within and stemming from illegal activity connected to the Clinton-Peabody housing complex.
Following the unsealing of today’s indictment, United States Attorney Jeff Jensen stated, “These arrests and unsealing of today’s indictment resulted from the coordinated effort between our office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. It is part of an active, on-going investigation focused on organized groups of individuals committing drug- and firearms-related crimes in the City of Saint Louis.”
“Parts of our city are being devastated by drugs and gun violence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alicia Corder of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Today's arrests show the commitment of law enforcement at all levels to work together to rid the streets of this lawlessness.”
“After recently attending an event to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic, this indictment is an example of the essential work officers do every day to combat drug-related crimes,” said Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief John Hayden after today’s indictment was unsealed. “Our continued coordination with our federal and local partners is valued and can save lives by getting drugs and firearms off of our streets.”
If convicted, the drug conspiracy charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. The use of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking charge carries a statutory minimum term of imprisonment of five years up to life consecutive to any other sentence imposed. The felon in possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department; and Drug Enforcement Administration.
- WILLIAM GOODLOW, 37, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin;
Kirksville Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Scott B. Walsh, 48, of Kirksville, MO, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography. Walsh appeared before United States District Judge John A. Ross.
According to court documents, in September of 2017 it came to the attention of Shelbina and Kirksville Police Departments that Walsh had solicited child pornography from a twelve-year boy in the area. The police and FBI discovered that Walsh, a registered sex offender, had befriended the twelve-year old boy, and given the child presents (such a bike and cell phone). Walsh persuaded the child, after numerous and constant text messaging, to send Walsh a self-produced video which depicted child pornography. The Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit was able to forensically locate the video on the child’s cell phone, as well as, the many text messages Walsh had sent the child.
Walsh pled guilty to Deviate Sexual Assault in an unrelated case on December 20, 2004, Boone County, Missouri and received five years in state prison.
The Kirksville Police Department, the Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Shelbina Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal Criminal Complaint Issued Against Saint Louis Corrections Officer for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – A federal complaint was issued today charging Teneisha D. Moore, 26, with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) and 846, and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c) and 2.
According to court documents, a federal search warrant was executed at residence in the 4600 block of Farlin Avenue in the City of Saint Louis on September 4, 2019. The residence was occupied by Ms. Moore, a Corrections Officer with the Saint Louis City Department of Corrections currently assigned to the Medium Security Institution.
During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement officials located and seized, among other things, approximately four ounces of a suspected fentanyl and heroin mixture; 57 grams of suspected marijuana; suspected ecstasy; a black, semi-automatic pistol; a rifle; a high-capacity, drum-style magazine; an additional approximately 15 grams of suspected heroin; and two balloons filled with a suspected mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
Charges set forth in the complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department; and Drug Enforcement Administration.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Four Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Carlos Robinson, 28, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence arising out of four separate armed store robberies committed in early 2017. Robinson appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey, who accepted his plea and set a sentencing date of December 3, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on February 6, 2017, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Robinson entered the Conoco Gas Station located at 3600 Big Bend Boulevard in St. Louis County. He pulled a bandana over his mouth and pointed a silver firearm at the clerk. Robinson instructed the clerk to open the cash register and demanded money before exiting the service station.
On February 10, 2017, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Robinson entered the Mobil on the Run gas station located at 9371 Olive Boulevard, also in St. Louis County. He pointed a small silver firearm at the clerk, told her to open the cash register drawer and give him the money.
On February 13, 2017, at approximately 1:39 p.m., Robinson entered the BP gas station located at 7003 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis City. He entered the store wearing sunglasses and asked to use the bathroom key, which the cashier provided. Robinson returned the key, walked inside the Plexiglas partition and revealed a firearm to the cashier, demanding money. The cashier was able to physically push Robison out of the secure cashier area, close the door, and push the alarm.
On February 15, 2017, at approximately 7:01 p.m., Robinson entered the Family Dollar located at 4344 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, also in St. Louis City. He approached the register and asked for a pack of Newport cigarettes. Robinson displayed a firearm, demanded money, and threatened to hurt the cashier if she did not comply.
The robbery charges carry a penalty of not more than 20 years and/or a fine of $250,000 on each count. The firearm charges carry a penalty of not less than seven years nor more than life and/or fine of $250,000 on each count consecutive to any other sentence imposed. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maplewood Police Department, the Olivette Police Department, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
Saint Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Johnzell Moorehead, 29, of Saint Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. Moorehead appeared today before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for December 6, 2019.
According to the plea agreement and among other things, Moorehead, his girlfriend, and an associate, Daryaun Wines, were travelling inside a vehicle in the early morning hours of October 12, 2017. The group was being followed by two additional associates who were in a separate vehicle. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Federal Officer Archie Shaw was on-duty and, as part of an on-going investigation, began to follow the second of the two vehicles. Special Federal Officer Shaw was utilizing an unmarked law enforcement vehicle.
Moorehead noticed Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle. Moorehead, his girlfriend, and Wines split-up from their other associates (who were being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw). The vehicle being followed by Special Federal Officer Shaw led Special Federal Officer Shaw to the intersection of Miami and Iowa streets within the City of Saint Louis. As Special Federal Officer Shaw drove through the intersection, Moorehead and Wines shot Special Federal Officer Shaw. Moorehead and Wines travelled to that location for the purpose of committing the shooting.
Special Federal Officer Shaw's vehicle was struck several times by the gunfire. Special Federal Officer Shaw himself was also struck by gunfire. After being shot, Special Federal Officer Shaw was able to drive himself to safety. Moorehead and his associates fled the area.
Under the firearm charge, Moorehead faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. As part of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed to recommend a 25-year sentence at the time of Moorehead’s sentencing.
In addition to Moorehead’s conviction, this on-going investigation into the shooting of Special Federal Officer Shaw also resulted in the federal convictions of Daryaun Wines; Paris Gordon; Don Collins; Joseph Paster; Clifton Hudson; and Darlene Calhoun.
“Police Officer Shaw has provided nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Saint Louis. The courage he exhibited in this incident, demonstrates his level of commitment to the protection of the community,” said Chief John Hayden, Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “The Saint Louis Police Department truly appreciates the support and assistance we receive from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and all our federal partners.”
"Mr. Moorhead and Mr. Wines ambushed FBI Special Federal Officer Shaw as he was simply doing his job, a dangerous job requiring courage and dedication. When any officer is threatened or attacked, the Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable anyone directly or indirectly involved. We hope Mr. Moorehead’s case, along with the other individuals charged and convicted during the course of this on-going investigation makes that clear,” said Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Rea after today's proceeding.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is investigating this case.
Kirkwood Man Sentenced to 12 years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Christopher Helm, 30, of Kirkwood, MO, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and lifetime supervised release for Possession of Child Pornography. Helm appeared before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White.
According to court documents, officers of the Kirkwood Police Department searched Helm’s apartment after learning he had been arrested in St. Clair, Missouri for statutory rape. Helm’s electronics revealed over 9000 images of child pornography.
Helm pled on May 22, 2019 to one count of possession of child pornography. Helm also pled in St. Clair County Court, Missouri on March 5, 2018 for the same conduct and was sentenced to a total of eight years in state prison. Both sentences will run concurrent.
The Kirkwood Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Regional Computer Crimes Education and Enforcement Group investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Torion Caston, 29, of Ferguson, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared before Federal District Judge John A. Ross.
According to court documents, on February 20, 2019, a Berkeley Police Officer observed Caston driving a Jeep Cherokee. Caston exited the vehicle. When he did, the officer attempted to speak to Caston. Caston then fled the scene. The officer observed a loaded Glock semi-automatic 9mm pistol on the floorboard of the Jeep. Caston later admitted he was a convicted felon and had possessed the stolen firearm.
The Berkeley Police Department investigated the case. United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Felon Pleads Guilty for Possessing a Stolen Firearm with 30 Live RoundsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Mikal Hamilton, 28, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one felony count of felon in possession of a firearm. Hamilton appeared in federal court this afternoon before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for December 5, 2019.
According to court documents, on January 15, 2019, members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department saw a vehicle driven by Hamilton commit a traffic violation. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, Hamilton sped off at a high rate of speed before crashing. Hamilton exited the vehicle and fled the scene of the accident. After being apprehended, Hamilton told police he ran because was he had a stolen firearm in the vehicle he was driving. The officers recovered a 40 caliber Glock firearm with an extended magazine loaded with 30 live rounds.
Hamilton faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of not more than a $250,000. He may be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence greater than described. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Hazelwood Man Sentenced for Armed Carjacking SpreeRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Jorion Garrett, 21, of Hazelwood, MO, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for three carjacking and two firearms charges. Garrett appeared today before U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2017, near the 5600 block of Enright Avenue, St. Louis, Garrett approached the victim from behind. Garrett pointed a handgun at the victim, took the victim’s car keys, and drove away in the victim’s 2016 Dodge Charger. The Charger was later recovered near Garrett’s residence in Hazelwood, and Garrett’s DNA was located inside the vehicle.
On November 21, 2017, near the 10000 block of Edgefield, St. Louis County, Garrett and another individual pointed a firearm at a victim who had previously parked her vehicle in the driveway of her residence. Garrett told the victim to drop the keys on the seat and go in the house. He and the other individual drove away in the victim’s 2016 Dodge Journey. On December 3, 2017, police found the vehicle parked in the driveway of Garrett’s residence and later located Garrett’s DNA inside the vehicle.
On January 4, 2018, near the 8300 block of Sagewood Lane, Hazelwood, two victims were delivering food to a residence as part of the Meals on Wheels Program. One victim took the meals inside the home while the other remained standing outside near her silver 2014 Jeep. Garrett approached the victim along with another individual who pointed a handgun at the victim and told her to “get back.” Garrett entered the driver’s side of the Jeep and drove away with the other assailant. Garrett later fled from police while driving the Jeep, and after he abandoned it, police recovered a fingerprint and DNA belonging to Garrett from inside the vehicle.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating this case in cooperation with the Hazelwood Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yemm is handling this case.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty for His Involvement in a CarjackingRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Antonio Ball, 21, St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one felony count of carjacking and one felony count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime. Ball appeared today before U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for November 20, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on May 19, 2018, the victim stopped at the Elite Market on North Broadway in a rental vehicle. Ball approached the victim with a handgun and demanded the car keys. When the victim complied, Ball and two other males jumped into the vehicle and drove off. Ball was later arrested by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime carries a penalty of not less than 7 years nor more than life and a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case.
Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for Health Care Fraud and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Rehan A. Rana, 46, of Ellisville, MO, was sentenced on Friday, August 16, 2019 to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100.000 fine, restitution in the amount of $751,787 to the Internal Revenue Service, and $526,285 to the Medicare Program. Rana appeared before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig.
According to court documents, between 2009 and 2012, Rana and others associated with Allegiance Medical Services, a medical testing laboratory, paid illegal kickbacks to doctors and marketers in exchange for blood and urine specimens that they sent or referred to the lab. Allegiance Medical Services concealed the illegal kickbacks from Medicare and Medicaid, which would not paid for tests of specimens obtained by the payment of illegal kickbacks.
For the tax years 2013, 2014, and 2015, Rana, the owner of St. Louis Hills Pharmacy, filed false tax returns, indicating that he had taxable distributions from his pharmacy of only $300,000 in 2013, $150,000 in 2014, and $217,500 in 2015, when he actually had received $1,993,600 in 2013, $1,328,924 in 2014, and $1,253,372 in 2015.
“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to investigating individuals who use their businesses as personal piggy banks,” said Steven Slazinik, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “We all pay when others swindle the government. Tax fraud of this magnitude and with this degree of trickery, dishonesty and deceit, deserves to be punished.”
The Internal Revenue Service – Office of Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy McMurtry handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Festus Doctor and His Company Plead Guilty to Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Antoine Adem, M.D., 49, of Festus, MO, and his company, Midwest Cardiovascular, Inc., plead guilty to their involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme. Adem appeared in federal court before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig who accepted the guilty pleas and set sentencing for November 19, 2019.
According to court documents, from January 2014 to December 2018, Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular submitted or caused to be submitted numerous false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The reimbursement claims falsely indicated that Dr. Adem performed two vein procedures on patients on two different days, when he actually performed the two procedures on the same day. As a result, Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular received about $2000 more per patient than he would have received if he had informed Medicare and other insurers that the two vein procedures were performed on the same day. As a result of these fraudulent claims, Medicare paid Dr. Adem and Midwest Cardiovascular $149,199, more than they were entitled to receive.
Adem faces a penalty up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Midwest Cardiovascular faces a fine of $500,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dorothy McMurtry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Canadian National Sentenced for Conspiring to Traffic Drugs Through the St. Louis AreaRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Harpreet Mann, 41, of Vancouver, Canada, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his participation in a multi-defendant drug conspiracy. Mann appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry A. Autrey and was ordered deportation to Canada after completing his sentence.
According to court documents, Mann’s drug trafficking organization was responsible for trafficking multi-kilogram amounts of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine through packages in the mail to St. Louis and other areas in the United States. After the completion of two wiretaps in January 2016, investigators executed six federal search warrants and seized 14 weapons, approximately $60,000, one kilogram of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine and three kilograms of marijuana.
Because of this investigation, seven defendants were federally indicted through the Eastern District of Missouri. Mann was on the run for nearly a year after the Indictment. Mann also has an active warrant in Canada for possession of 3 kilograms of cocaine in March 2018.
Co-defendant James T. Bell is awaiting trial; co-defendant Daniel Gene Bigham is awaiting sentencing; the remaining co-defendants have been sentenced— Lamar White (20 months), Jeffrey Scott Cotton (20 months), Alex Smith (5 years’ probation), and Terra Cotton (SAIL Program).
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Crystal City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case.
Florissant Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 322 Capsules of FentanylRead the Press Release
St. Louis –Ryan Easter, 27, of Florissant, MO, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possessing fentanyl. Easter appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for November 11, 2019.
According to court documents, on February 28, 2018, Easter conducted a narcotics transaction. Easter was eventually stopped by law enforcement. Easter was in the possession of a loaded 45-caliber Glock firearm and a plastic bag containing 322 fentanyl capsules.
Easter faces a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or both. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case.
Former Chief Executive Officer of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Sentenced for Cover UpRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Sheila M. Sweeney, 62, of Ladue, was sentenced to three years’ probation for Misprision of a Felony and ordered to pay a fine of $20,000. Sweeney appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Catherine D. Perry.
According to court documents, Sheila Sweeney was the Chief Executive Officer of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, having been recommended for that position by former St. Louis County Executive Steven V. Stenger during August 2015. Stenger believed he could exercise control of the Partnership’s contracts and grants through Sweeney, who did, in fact, take her directions from Stenger throughout her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership. Sweeney had knowledge of Stenger’s ongoing bribery scheme, whereby Stenger accepted political donations in exchange for awarding contracts through St. Louis County and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and its affiliated organizations. Stenger’s scheme deprived the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to the honest services of both Stenger and Sweeney. Knowing of Stenger’s illegal bribery scheme, Sweeney failed to report the criminal conduct to law enforcement. Sweeney also took steps and engaged in conduct to conceal and cover up Stenger’s illegal bribery scheme which allowed Stenger’s scheme to continue undetected for several years. By her criminal conduct, Sweeney violated her fiduciary duties to the Board of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and abused the trust of the St. Louis County citizens who deserved her honest services.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating this case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Cardinal Lawn and Landscape, Inc. and its President both Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Visa FraudRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – William J. Richardet, 64, of Jefferson County, and Cardinal Lawn and Landscape, Inc., of High Ridge, MO, both pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Richardet appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Henry Autrey who accepted his plea and set sentencing for November 12, 2019.
According to court documents, from January 2012 until December 2017, Richardet knowingly caused Cardinal Lawn and Landscape, Inc. (Cardinal) to submit false and fraudulent claims and statements on both Form 9142s (submitted to Department of Labor) and Form I-129s (submitted to Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services) related to Cardinal’s application to receive H-2B Non-Immigrant workers. On these forms, Cardinal and Richardet fraudulently represented that they would seasonally employ foreign workers to provide landscaping and grounds keeping labor exclusively for Cardinal. These statements were falsely made as Richardet intended to lease, and did lease, a number of the foreign workers to various other companies for profit. Over the course of the conspiracy, Cardinal and Richardet leased 74 H-2B Non-Immigrant workers to seven different companies.
“William Richardet and his company, Cardinal Lawn & Landscape, submitted false documents to the U.S. Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to perpetrate a scheme by illegally subcontracting foreign workers he sponsored for H2-B visas. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who defraud worker visa programs for their own personal gain,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
Richardet faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Cardinal faces a maximum fine of $500,000 and 5 years probation. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provides recommended sentencing ranges.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Bateman is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Man Sentenced for Carjacking with a Sawed Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – David Jones, 20, St. Louis, MO, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for carjacking. Jones appeared today before U.S. District Judge Ronnie White.
According to court documents, on May 22, 2018, the victim and a friend were sitting in a 2008 Malibu in the 1300 block of Ferguson when Jones and two other individuals approached and told them to get out of the car. Members of the group pointed a short-barreled shotgun and handgun at the victims. The victims complied. The three carjackers jumped in the car and drove off.
An hour after the carjacking, members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spotted the stolen Malibu. The Malibu drove in a reckless and dangerous manner before spinning out of control. Jones exited the driver’s seat. The two others also fled on foot. Jones discarded a loaded sawed off shotgun as he fled. Jones was taken into custody after a foot chase and a struggle with police officers.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan is handling this case.
St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 10 years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Rodney Grant Sullivan, 55, St. Louis, MO, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for Possession of Child Pornography. Sullivan appeared before United States District Judge Ronnie L. White.
The investigation was started by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office investigated a complaint that Sullivan was looking at child pornography on a computer and cell phone. Officers located the devices and found child pornography images on the cell phone.
Sometime later, St. Charles County Cyber Crimes Task Force officers assisted in locating Sullivan at his employer’s address in Crestwood, Missouri. At that time, Sullivan had a different cell phone with him and allowed the law enforcement officers to examine it. The officers found additional child pornography images on that phone. Some of the images depicted young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Sullivan, who was previously convicted in 2011 of two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child during, was indicted in federal court for Possession of Child Pornography on September 12, 2018. On May 14, 2019, he pleaded guilty to possessing at least 450 images of child pornography on his cell phone between April 1, 2017, and May 4, 2018. He was sentenced today to 10 years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Charles County Cyber Crimes Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Last Defendant Sentenced in a Multi-Defendant Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Nathan Cavin, 38, of St. Louis, MO, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for his involvement in a multi-defendant methamphetamine conspiracy in the Eastern District of Missouri. Cavin appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, in April 2017, a multi-pound supplier of methamphetamine was identified, who had several sources of supply for drugs in Oklahoma City and Kansas City. Eleven people were indicted and connected to this conspiracy, which was responsible for at least 40 kilograms of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was transported to the St. Louis area from Oklahoma City and Kansas City between April and August 2017. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized approximately nine kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 guns (including a silencer and a short-barrel rifle) and $148,000 in U.S. currency.
Defendants also sentenced in the conspiracy are as follows:
Eric Broadaway, 49, 120 months in prison;
Keith English, 27, 180 months in prison;
Tommy Hopkins, 37, 144 months in prison;
Brandon Jones, 36, 135 months in prison;
Dione Schwartz, 50, 120 months in prison;
Bryan Warren, 40, 180 months in prison and;
David Wilson, 38, 60 months in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Charles Drug Task Force and the St. Ann Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Koppenaal handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former St. Louis Community College Employee Steals over $7.5 million from the Missouri Job Training ProgramRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Donald L. Robison, 57, Ballwin, MO, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering before United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark. Sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2019.
According to his plea agreement, from August 1998 through November 2018, Robison stole millions of dollars allocated for New and Retained Job Training Programs established by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Robison stole program-allocated funds from both the Missouri Department of Revenue and St. Louis Community College. Robison subsequently moved the stolen funds between bank and investment accounts to conceal their origin.
"All the money stolen was meant for a program designed for people who wanted to better themselves by learning new skills to become employable," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "Instead, Donald Robison helped himself to millions of taxpayer dollars and deprived the program of money destined to help Missouri workers."
Wire fraud and mail fraud carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for each count and a fine of $250,000 or both. Money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each count and a fine of $250,000 or both. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provides recommended sentencing ranges. Restitution to the victims is also mandatory.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with the assistance and cooperation of St. Louis Community College and the State of Missouri. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsay McClure-Hartman is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Man Sentenced for Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Jerrinon Tate, 28, of St. Louis, MO, sentenced to a term of fourteen years in federal prison for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.
According to court documents, on June 21, 2018, at 1:00 a.m., Tate entered the QuikTrip located at 10845 Lilac in Bellefontaine Neighbors in Saint Louis County. He pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at the clerk and demanded money.
Hours later, Tate entered the Moto Mart located at 11005 Riverview Drive in the City of St. Louis. He again pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at the clerk and demanded money. Approximately 20 minutes later, Tate entered the Family Dollar store located at 8971 Halls Ferry, St. Louis, Missouri. Tate pointed a firearm at the clerk, demanded money, and threatened to shoot the clerk.
The total combined cash that Tate took in the armed robberies was approximately $847.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Former St. Louis County Executive Seven V. Stenger Sentenced to Federal Prison for "Pay to Play" Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Steven V. Stenger, 47, of Clayton, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years’ supervised release, $130,000 restitution and a $300 special assessment related to his guilty pleas to three felony counts of honest services bribery/mail fraud. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Court Judge Catherine D. Perry.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning during October 2014, even before he was officially elected County Executive, and continuing through December 31, 2018, Stenger engaged in a systemic scheme to defraud and deprive the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to his honest and faithful services by soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for county contracts and grants. The purpose of the scheme was for Stenger to secretly use his official position to enrich himself through soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from individuals and their companies in exchange for his favorable official action in issuing government contracts and grants to those political donors. Stenger directed members of his executive staff, including his chief of staff and chief of policy, and various other high level county employees to take steps to ensure that his political donors would win in the bidding process for various county contracts. In doing so, other companies who expected a level playing field in the county’s bidding process were victimized, as were the approximately one million residents of St. Louis County. For over four years, Stenger treated important county contracts and grants as something to barter away as if they were his own personal thank you gifts.
One businessman from whom Stenger solicited and received political donations was John Rallo. In exchange for campaign donations and several fundraising events, Stenger directed the county’s Director of Operations to award John Rallo and his company, Cardinal Insurance, insurance contracts through St. Louis County during 2015 and 2016. Further, Stenger directed the Chief Executive Officer of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Sheila Sweeney, to award John Rallo and his company, Cardinal Creative Consulting, a 2016 consulting contract for $130,000 through the St. Louis County Port Authority. Additionally, Stenger took official action to ensure that John Rallo and his company, Wellston Holdings, LLC, obtained two properties in Wellston, Missouri, which were held by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of St. Louis County during 2016 and 2017. Stenger also admitted to steering a 2019 - 2021 state lobbying contract from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership to a company identified as “Company One” in exchange for political donations and fundraising efforts from the company’s owner. Stenger took steps to hide, conceal and cover up his illegal conduct, including making false public statements and directing others with knowledge of his scheme to make false public statements.
"Steve Stenger abused his power as an elected official to benefit himself," said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. "Had the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office not stopped Stenger from misusing taxpayer dollars for his personal gain, he would have continued to run St. Louis County into the ground. He will now have years in federal prison to reflect on the cost of his greed.”
“Public service is a public trust,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith. “Through his illegal pay to play scheme aimed at filling his own political coffers, the former County Executive shattered that trust. The residents of St. Louis County and St. Louis County government employees have suffered immeasurable harm as a result. The Department of Justice will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute public corruption wherever it exists, and work to restore the public’s trust in its elected officials.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
Bosnian National Sentenced for Providing Material Support to TerroristsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Armin Harcevic, 41, of Ballwin, MO, appeared today before U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry. Harcevic was sentenced to 66 months in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists. Harcevic was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin his sentence immediately. Based on the offenses for which Harcevic was convicted he is subject to deportation and removal from the United States.
According to court documents, Armin Harcevic, Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, his wife Sedina Unkic Hodzic, Nihad Rosic, Jasminka Ramic and Mediha Medy Salkicevic conspired with others to support the activities of Abdullah Ramo Pazara and others, including a conspiracy to commit outside the United States an act that would constitute the offense of murder or maiming if committed in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Harcevic intended to and did provide support and resources to Pazara, knowing that he and his co-conspirators would use the support and resources in furtherance of their combat against Syrian government forces and others. Harcevic’s support consisted of money, which was used by his co-conspirators to purchase supplies such as U.S. military uniforms, rifle scopes, combat boots, tactical gear, clothing, firearms accessories, range finders, and other supplies useful to fighters engaged in combat in Syria and elsewhere.
Co-defendants Ramiz Zijad Hodzic and Sedina Unkic Hodzic are awaiting sentencing; Nihad Rosic is awaiting trial; Jasminka Ramic and Mediha Medy Salkicevic were sentenced to 36 and 78 months in prison, respectively.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Drake, Howard Marcus and Kenneth Tihen of the Eastern District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section.
St. Louis Man Sentenced for Two Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Malachiah Williams, 23, of St. Louis, MO, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm. Williams appeared today before U.S. District Judge Richard Webber.
According to court documents, on July 25, 2018, Williams, armed with a semi-automatic firearm, approached a man in his vehicle parked in front of a residence in the 5500 block of Cote Brilliante. Williams tapped on the driver’s side door with the firearm and ordered the victim out of the vehicle. After the victim exited, Williams entered the vehicle and drove away.
On July 31, 2018, a mother and her four-year-old daughter were sitting inside a vehicle near the 5400 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Williams approached their vehicle and stuck his head into the passenger side window. He pointed a semi-automatic firearm at the mother and child while ordering them out of the vehicle. Williams then entered the vehicle and drove away.
Williams pled in May 2019, to two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing a firearm.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Mehan prosecuted the case.
Franklin County Man Indicted for Charges of Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Soliciting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Franklin County resident Patrick Estes, 57, with enticement of a minor (18 USC 2422(b)), solicitation of child pornography (18 USC 2252A(a)(3)(B)(ii)), and committing a felony involving a minor while a registered sex offender (18 USC 2260A). Estes has been taken into custody and ordered detained pending trial.
The defendant is a registered sex offender having been previously convicted by the State of Missouri for sexual offenses against minors.
As is always the case, charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pursuant to our continuing effort to keep children safe, law enforcement is requesting that anyone with more information about this case or other possible victims please contact FBI Task Force Officer Det. Jacob Walk at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 636-583-2567 or Investigator Donya Jackson with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 314-539-2200.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Laclede Cab DriverRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – James Flannel, 37, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty this morning to one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of carjacking that resulted in the death of Boris Iouioukine, a Laclede Cab Company driver. Flannel appeared before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for October 31, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, Flannel was in the possession of a nine-millimeter firearm and magazine on June 25, 2018. Flannel called the Laclede Cab Company and ordered a taxi. A red minivan taxi being driven by victim Boris Iouioukine responded to Flannel’s request. Flannel got into the taxi at approximately 8:52 p.m. Flannel was armed with the nine millimeter firearm when he entered the taxi.
At approximately 9:14 p.m. while inside the taxi, Flannel shot and killed Boris Iouioukine with the nine-millimeter pistol. The shooting occurred inside the cab while the taxi was present in 2500 block of East Dodier within the City of St. Louis. Boris Iouioukine’s body was left in the street by Flannel. Flannel drove the taxi from the area after the shooting. Flannel drove the taxi to the area of Castle Point in Saint Louis County, Missouri. Flannel parked the taxi at the driveway of a residence in the 10000 block of Duke Drive and fled.
At approximately 9:26 p.m., the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received calls for help relative to a man down in the middle of the street. Police and the fire department responded and located Boris Iouioukine. Paramedics pronounced Boris Iouioukine dead at the scene.
Victim Borsi Iouioukine’s taxi was located by police on the morning of June 26, 2018. Among other things, a nine-millimeter shell casing was located and seized from the driver’s side floorboard. Other items were seized from inside the taxi, including a water bottle. Analysis of the water bottle located Flannel’s print on it. Flannel was charged by way of federal complaint on June 27, 2018.
On August 10, 2018, investigators initiated an investigation within Spanish Lake Park in an effort to locate and recover the nine millimeter firearm utilized by Flannel during the armed carjacking and murder. A search within the park eventually located a Taurus make, Millennium G2 model, nine millimeter semi-automatic pistol. The firearm was operable and loaded with 13 rounds. It was seized. Subsequent ballistic analysis of the firearm confirmed that the shell casing recovered from the within taxi was fired from the nine millimeter firearm located and seized from within Spanish Lake Park.
The charge of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years to life. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. As part of Flannel’s plea agreement, the parties will recommend at the time of sentencing that a sentence of life imprisonment be imposed.
"We continue to work tirelessly to reduce violence and the number of murders that occur within our community. Our entire office is dedicated to it. When a guilty plea like this is achieved, it is important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication our law enforcement partners expend to bring the culprit to justice as soon as a murder, or any crime for that matter, occurs,” said United States Attorney Jeff Jensen following Flannel’s guilty plea. “Boris Iouioukine was a superb, hardworking, valued member of our community. His murder was senseless. We hope today’s guilty plea brings some measure of solace to Mr. Iouioukine’s family, co-workers, and all of those who loved him.”
“The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department greatly appreciates the continued assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This partnership, coupled with the perseverance of all the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, led to today’s guilty plea. I hope this display of justice will help us combat these violent incidents that occur in our region,” said Chief John Hayden, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was made possible, in part, by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of using ballistic intelligence to identify those using firearms to commit violent crimes in our community. By targeting these offenders we are able to disrupt the shooting cycle that fuels violence and instantly make neighborhoods safer,” said Marino Vidoli, ATF Special Agent in Charge.
The St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments; United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Metro West Fire Protection District’s Dive/Rescue Response Team investigated this case.
Third and Final Man Sentenced for Carjacking and Robbing a 7-11 StoreRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Ahmaad Ali, 24, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 132 months in prison for carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence and robbery charges. He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White.
According to court documents, on October 17, 2017, officers of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to 3880 Meramec after a report of a robbery and carjacking at that location. Specifically, the female victim was driving a 2002 Pontiac Aztek and had stopped at the curb to make a phone call. As she did, co-defendant Jevante Phillips approached the driver’s side door pointing a military style weapon at her. The victim opened the car door and attempted to hand over her purse; the co-defendant Jevante Phillips refused the purse, and ordered her out of the vehicle. The victim complied. As co-defendant Jevante Phillips entered the driver’s seat, Ali entered the passenger side of the vehicle. Ali and Phillips fled in the vehicle.
On October 18, 2017, Ali, along with co-defendants Jevante Phillips and Travion Lindsey -- all armed with firearms -- entered the 7-11 store located on Christy Avenue in South St. Louis. The three arrived at the 7-11 in the stolen Pontiac. They entered the store brandishing their firearms and wearing masks. Phillips walked around the counter and began stealing lottery tickets and money from the cash register. He was armed with a black long barrel pistol grip firearm. Ali jumped over the counter and began removing the cash register. He was armed with a black handgun, containing an extended magazine. Travion Lindsey stood guard at the door and eventually walked over the counter and assisted in removing currency. He was armed with a black handgun, which he held in his left hand the entire time. After two minutes inside of the store, the three ran out of the store taking liquor bottles, cigarettes, and candy on their way outside. The males then re-entered the Aztec and fled the area.
Co-defendants Lindsey and Phillips were previously sentenced to 108 and 132 months in prison, respectively.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and assisted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Mehan is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Two Mid-Missouri Women Arrested on Charges They Distributed Morphine Leading to Multiple OverdosesRead the Press Release
St. Louis - The United States Marshals Service today arrested Megan Lowe, 41, of Bevier, Missouri and Kimberly Ann Basler, 44, of Atlanta, Missouri on Federal drug charges. The Indictment against Lowe and Basler was unsealed following their arrests. It alleges that on October 5, 2018, Lowe and Basler distributed controlled substances, and that two people, identified only as E.O. and M.J., ingested those drugs. M.J., of Columbia, Missouri, died as a result, and E.O., also of Columbia, became seriously ill. Lowe and Basler are each charged with two counts – one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. They are expected to make their initial appearances in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis on August 1, 2019.
The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Columbia, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Lowe and Basler face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years on each of the two counts with which they are charged. These sentences could be ordered to be served concurrently (at the same time) or consecutively (one after the other).
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Uber Driver's CarRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Robert W. Rives, 37, of New Baden, IL, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Rives appeared today before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for October 25, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on October 3, 2018 in the City of St. Louis, Rives was a passenger in a Chevy Impala vehicle which had immediately turned in front of a Mitsubishi vehicle and stopped. Rives exited the passenger side and approached the driver of the Mitsubishi vehicle who was driving for UBER Eats making a delivery. He produced a firearm and demanded the driver to give him his vehicle. The victim complied and Rives then entered the victim’s Mitsubishi and drove off following the Impala. Numerous items in the stolen car included a Rock River AR-15 rifle and two handguns.
Later that day, Rives was arrested in the same type of vehicle he had stolen and officers recovered the AR-15 rifle and handguns.
Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000; and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a minimum penalty of five years and a fine of $250,000.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating this case.
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Identity TheftRead the Press Release
St. Louis MO --- Christopher Crivolio, 47, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, pled guilty today to one count of identity theft. Crivolio appeared before United States District Judge John A. Ross. Sentencing is scheduled for November 7, 2019.
In or about August of 2018, Christopher Crivolio, sent unauthorized emails purporting to be from an employee of Mantality Health in the Eastern District of Missouri. Crivolio had previously been employed with and terminated from Mantality Health. Without the authorization of his former employer, Mantality Health, Crivolio used the name of a current employee to send emails to numerous job applicants who had applied for positions at Mantality Health. The emails purported to reject the applicants stating, “Thank you for your interest in careers at Mantality Health. Unfortunately we do not consider candidates that have suggestive “ghetto” names. We wish the best in your career search.” Crivolio signed the emails in the name of a nurse practitioner who still worked at Mantality Health.
After the emails were sent, multiple news outlets reported on the story of the offensive rejection emails, and the employee and Mantality Health began to receive comments on social media and harassing telephone calls. Personal information regarding the employee was posted on social media, which caused the employee to temporarily relocate. At no point in time had the employee, or anyone at Mantality Health, authorized Crivolio to use the employee’s identity or to send the communications purporting to be on behalf of Mantality Health.
Crivolio faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 along with a forfeiture allegation for identity theft. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provides recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the F.B.I. offices in St. Louis and Milwaukee with assistance from the Western District of Wisconsin.
“Identity theft not only affects individuals when their personal information is stolen,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. “In this case, Chris Crivolio assumed the identity of a former co-worker to falsely represent the company in responding to job applicants with the intent to destroy the company’s reputation.”
AUSA Gwendolyn Carroll is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Couple Indicted with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess FentanylRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Charles T. McRoberts, 49, of St. Louis, and Gernell Armour, 47, of St. Louis, were indicted today on two felony counts each – one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to the court documents, on July 9, 2019, detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department were conducting a narcotics investigation at the United Parcel Service (UPS) Shipment Sorting Center on Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis, MO. After becoming suspicious of a brown package addressed to 4715 Sacramento Avenue, a K-9 dog conducted a sniff of the package and gave a positive response to the odor of narcotics. After obtaining a search warrant and conducting a search of the package, officers located and seized two cylinders wrapped in green electrical tape, each of which contained a plastic bag with fentanyl. The total amount of fentanyl seized was approximately 962 grams.
On July 12, 2019, a UPS security representative delivered a decoy package to the address on Sacramento where it was accepted by Armour. Shortly after acceptance, McRoberts arrived and approached the package. McRoberts was arrested.
If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine each. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Nauman Wadalawala is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Missouri Pain Medicine Doctor and Wife Indicted for Purchasing Illegal Medical Devices and Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Dr. Abdul Naushad, 55, and his wife, Wajiha Naushad, 44, both of Town and Country, MO, were indicted today in a 21-count indictment for purchasing non-FDA approved medical devices, Orthovisc, from Canada and England and smuggling the same devices into the United States. The couple was also charged with health care fraud related to billing for the same devices, when they knew Medicare and Medicaid would not reimburse for the non-FDA approved devices. Orthovisc, in a pre-filled syringe, is injected into the knee to relieve osteoarthritis pain and is available only by prescription. Dr. Naushad did not disclose to his patients that they were receiving non-FDA approved Orthovisc.
Dr. Naushad and Wajiha Naushad own and operate a number of pain management clinics, at times simultaneously owning as many as six pain management clinics in Missouri. All the clinics operate under the name Advanced Pain Center or APC.
In 2010, Dr. Naushad, Wajiha Naushad, their pain management clinics, and their billing company reached an $820,000 civil agreement with the United States for submitting false reimbursement claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The claims falsely indicated that a physical therapist provided one-on-one services to patients, when they knew the services were provided on a machine that was experimental and not covered by federal health care programs.
If convicted, Dr. Naushad and his wife will be excluded from participating in any way with the federal health care programs for a minimum of five years.
In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Dorothy McMurtry is handling the case.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
St. Louis County Doctor Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Opioid Narcotic Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –Angela K. Williams, M.D., 34, of Florissant, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2018 on two felony charges of fraudulently obtaining narcotic opioid prescription drugs.
According to the Indictment, Dr. Williams wanted to obtain prescription drugs that contained controlled substances for her own personal use, outside the bounds of professional medical practice and not for legitimate medical purposes. Accordingly, Dr. Williams used her own prescription pad to write and sign numerous prescriptions for controlled substances using other persons’ names, including prescriptions for the narcotic opioid pain relief drugs hydrocodone and oxycodone. Dr. Williams then went to the pharmacies and presented the prescriptions for the drugs, posing as a patient. Dr. Williams also fraudulently used another doctor’s prescription pad, name, and Drug Enforcement Administration number to write herself some additional controlled substance prescriptions.
If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge William Callahan stated “The purpose of the DEA’s Diversion Control Program is to maintain the integrity of the supply chain of prescription drugs to the American public. The diversion of prescription drugs outside the bounds of professional medical practice puts the supply chain at risk and has the potential to jeopardize public safety. The DEA will continue to closely work with our law enforcement partners to prevent the illegal distribution of prescription drugs.”
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florissant Police Department, the Town and Country Police Department, and the St. John Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs of the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and the St. Louis County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
St. Louis City Man Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
St. Louis MO --- Aaron Mitchell, 30, of St. Louis City, pled guilty today to one count of preparing false tax returns and one count of filing false claims for tax refunds. Mitchell appeared before United States District Judge Audrey F. Fleissig. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2019.
According to court documents, Mitchell admitted that from 2013 through 2015, he prepared approximately 160 federal income tax returns for individuals and electronically filed the returns. He was not registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a return preparer and submitted the returns only in the names of the individuals. Most of the tax returns prepared and filed by Mitchell were false and constituted fraudulent claims for refund.
Mitchell submitted false W-2 information which reflected false employer names as well as false wage and income tax withholding amounts. He often added in bogus claims for education credits---so-called American Opportunity Credits--- by falsely claiming that individuals had upwards of $4,000.00 in expenses attending Forest Park Community College or Meramec Community College. The false tax returns prepared and filed by the Mitchell for the years 2012, 2013 and 2015 caused a tax loss of $99,576.00, which was the amount of refunds paid out by the IRS.
“An integral part of the IRS’s mission involves detecting and catching fraudulent tax refund claims,” said Karl Stiften, Special Agent in Charge. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to be on the front lines to fight tax fraud.”
Mitchell faces up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for preparation of false tax returns and up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for filing false claims for tax refunds. In determining the actual sentence, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provides recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation office in St. Louis. Criminal Chief James Crowe, Jr. is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Aggravated Assault on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Myron Cornelius Wilson, Jr., 27, of St. Louis, was sentenced today to a term of 120 months imprisonment by United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey. In March 2019, Wilson pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, on April 17, 2018, members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Most Violent Offenders Unit (along with detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department) executed a search warrant in the 4100 block of Camellia in the City of St. Louis. Upon arrival at the residence, investigators observed a number of individuals seated in or near the porch area. As investigators arrived, the individuals scattered, with a number of them retreating into the residence. When FBI Task Force Officers and Special Agents approached wearing tactical vests clearly identifying them as “POLICE,” Myron Wilson, Jr. fled towards the rear entrance of the residence. Wilson then pointed a handgun at FBI personnel. FBI agents and task force officers defended themselves and others by discharging their weapons, striking Wilson and ending the threat he posed.
Wilson appeared in court in a wheelchair. He is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of this incident. Information presented at sentencing revealed that Wilson had also been shot by police in 2010 after he refused multiple commands to drop a weapon he was holding.
United States Attorney Jeff Jensen reiterated his commitment to combatting violent crime by stating, “Myron Wilson is a dangerous felon who has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to carry guns and to use those guns against law enforcement officers and others. His conduct left agents with no choice but to protect themselves and the community.”
“From a young age, Myron Wilson repeatedly engaged in violent encounters with law enforcement demonstrating his blatant disregard for the law,” said Alicia Corder, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI St. Louis Division. “Today he was held accountable for his actions.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Florissant Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Selling Fatal Dose of Acetyl-FentanylRead the Press Release
St. Louis - Jaleel Zakee Adams, 23, of Florissant, MO was sentenced today to a term of 20 years in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge E. Richard Webber. At the time of his guilty plea in April 2019, Adams admitted that on November 15, 2017, he knowingly sold acetyl-fentanyl to R.I. of Florissant. After meeting with Adams and purchasing acetyl-fentanyl, R.I. returned home and was later found unresponsive. The Medical Examiner determined that R.I. died as a result of acute acetyl-fentanyl intoxication. Acetyl-fentanyl is a powerful and often deadly analogue of fentanyl developed strictly for the illicit market. It has no legitimate medical use.
Shortly after R.I.’s death, the Florissant Police Department made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Adams, and later executed a search warrant at his family’s residence in the 100 block of Kendl Court. During the search, police located drugs and multiple firearms. Adams admitted that he sold heroin and fentanyl to make money. Firearm charges against Adams were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.
United States Attorney Jeffrey B. Jensen praised the Florissant Police Department, which investigated the case. Jensen noted, “[t]his case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of opioids, and particularly fentanyl. Fentanyl and its analogues are dangerous and their use all too frequently results in deaths. When such tragedies occur, the individuals responsible will be held accountable.”
Florissant Police Chief Timothy Fagan reiterated his commitment to the aggressive investigation of overdose deaths. “Individuals who engage in the sales of opioids prey upon their neighbors suffering from substance use disorders. We will continue to use every resource available in an effort to stem the tide of opioids in this community, and we will continue to seek justice for the victims of illegal drug trafficking.”
Local Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Involving Former St. Louis County Executive Steve StengerRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO –John Rallo, 53, formerly of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty to three counts of Honest Services Mail Fraud/Bribery. Rallo appeared in federal court this afternoon before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber who accepted his plea and set sentencing for October 15, 2019.
According to court documents, beginning in October 2014 and continuing through December 31, 2018, former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger schemed to defraud and deprive the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to his honest and faithful services, and the honest and faithful services of former CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Sheila Sweeney, through a pay to play bribery scheme. The purpose of the scheme was for Stenger to secretly use his official position to enrich himself through soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from businessman John Rallo and other individuals in exchange for favorable official action in the awarding of contracts and grants through St. Louis County and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
Stenger, in exchange for campaign donations and several fundraising events hosted by John Rallo, took official action to insure that Rallo and his company, Cardinal Insurance, obtained insurance contracts through St. Louis County during 2015 and 2016. Further, Stenger took official action to insure that John Rallo and his company, Cardinal Creative Consulting, obtained a sham 2016 consulting contract through the St. Louis County Port Authority. Additionally, Stenger took official action to insure that John Rallo and his company, Wellston Holdings, LLC, obtained land contracts for two industrial properties in Wellston, Missouri which were held by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of St. Louis County during 2016 and 2017. Rallo, Stenger, and Sweeney took steps to hide, conceal and cover up the illegal bribery scheme, including making false public statements.
Rallo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Restitution is also mandatory.
In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating this case with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former Director of "BSI" Heads to PrisonRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Leaman George Crews, III, 44, of St. James, Missouri, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud the company he worked for – Brewer Science Incorporated (BSI), Rolla, Missouri. Crews appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey.
According to court documents, between May 2, 2008 and August 11, 2017, Crews was employed as the Director of Information Systems for BSI. He was given a BSI credit card to order software equipment on behalf of the company. Instead of purchasing software and computer equipment for the company, Crews used the credit card to fund over one thousand wire transfers to various PayPal and bank accounts. Crews ultimately used the BSI funds for personal expenditures unrelated to the legitimate BSI business, including cash withdrawals and personal credit card purchases. The total amount of loss is approximately $1,851,520.
The Rolla division of the FBI investigated this case. Lindsay McClure-Hartman is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s office.
St. Louis County Man Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Anas Alshurafa, 50, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud this morning before Chief Judge Rodney Sippel in St. Louis. Judge Sippel accepted Alshurafa’s plea and deferred sentencing until October 4, 2019.
According to his plea agreement, in April 2017, investigators received information that the operator of Autoway Car Sales, Anas Alshurafa, and its owner, Wasim Charfa, were fraudulently obtaining motor vehicle loans.
The investigation revealed that Alshurafa submitted fraudulent loan applications with counterfeit supporting documents and stolen identifying information to various credit issuers that operated in interstate commerce. The documents were presented to the credit issuers by mail and through interstate wires.
When an audit of the submitted documents revealed numerous inconsistencies, Alshurafa falsely claimed that an employee presented the documentation without his knowledge. To bolster his story, Alshurafa emailed the credit issuer’s representative a forged letter of admission from an individual who was not associated with his business. He also sent the credit issuer a counterfeit driver’s license bearing the identifying information of that individual, but the photograph of another person.
Despite the execution of a search warrant by state and federal investigators in May 2017, and the seizure of his vehicles by the City of Pagedale, Missouri Police Department, Alshurafa electronically transmitted a fraudulent loan application using the identifying information of a past customer in order to secure funding from one of his credit issuers. On June 7, 2017, Alshurafa used the identifying information and previously submitted loan verification documentation of J.L.G. to obtain a loan for which Autoway Car Sales received a commission of $6,878.83 for the loan financing they obtained.
A forensic examination of computers seized during the execution of a search warrant on May 31, 2017 revealed templates of counterfeit bank statements in electronic folders bearing defendant’s name.
The government estimated that the defendant’s scheme caused losses to the victims of more than $250,000 between January 1, 2016 and December 20, 2017.
Wire fraud and mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for each count and a fine of $250,000 or both. Restitution to the victims is also mandatory.
The case was investigated by the investigated by the Missouri DOR – Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agencies were assisted by the Pagedale Police Department. Tracy Berry is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.