Eastern District of Missouri
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Woman Indicted for Selling Stolen Items on EBayRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Tammy Baggio was indicted for allegedly stealing products from local Sam’s Clubs and re-selling them on eBay. The indictment alleges that she stole merchandise from Sam’s Club locations in seven different states and sold that product to purchasers across the United States.
According to the indictment, between February and August 2012, Baggio visited Sam’s Club locations in a number states, including stores in the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. She would select either a large container, such as a trash can, or a cheap item that was packaged in large box, remove the contents and hide the box on shelves throughout the store. She then filled the empty box with more expensive products, usually electronics or a pet product known as Frontline. When she checked out the cashier scanned the box and charged her for the cheaper item. She then allegedly sold the items on eBay.TAMMY BAGGIO, St. Joseph, MO, was indicted by a federal grand jury in late January on one felony count of conspiracy to transmit stolen goods. She was arraigned in federal court earlier today.
If convicted, this charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
Additionally, upon a finding of guilt, the defendant will be subject to a forfeiture allegation, which will require the forfeiture of money and property derived from the illegal activity.
This case was investigated by the Postal Inspection Service, the Des Peres Police Department, and Walmart/Sam's Club Global Security. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Casey is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Roles in 2011 MurderRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Scott Alan Compton, Washington, MO, and Lodgy Michael Jackson, Houston, TX, pled guilty on February 6 and February 8, 2013, respectively, for their actions that resulted in the April 22, 2011, death of Jamie Benson of Houston, TX. Compton and Jackson both pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. Jackson additionally pled guilty to a second count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a third count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in which death resulted. They appeared before United States District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig
According to court documents, in early April 2011, Compton and Jackson -- along with others -- joined in a conspiracy that included robbing and murdering victim Benson within the City of St. Louis after luring Mr. Benson from Houston to St. Louis. Compton and Jackson were actively involved in luring Benson to St. Louis and setting the stage for Benson's murder by Jackson. In the early morning hours of April 22, 2011, Jackson shot and murdered Benson inside a vehicle parked in a St. Louis alley. Jackson and others abandoned Benson's body in the alley where it was later discovered by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The conspirators undertook significant efforts to cover-up the conspiracy and destroy evidence of the crime, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Sentencing has been set for May 2013. Compton faces up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment for his crime. Jackson faces a term of imprisonment of up to life for his crimes. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Franklin County Sheriff's Department; and the St. Charles County Police Department.Former Chief of St. Clair Fire Protection District and Ladue Fire Department Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Eric Hinson pled guilty to mail fraud and multiple tax evasion charges involving his misuse of approximately $593,236 of St. Clair Fire Protection District funds between January 2006 and September 2011. As a result of the federal investigation, Hinson resigned his positions as Chief at both the St. Clair Fire Protection District and the Ladue Fire Department.
The St. Clair Fire Protection District (District) provides fire protection service for Franklin County, Missouri, and has four fire houses, 18 full-time fire fighters and between 25-50 volunteer fire fighters. The District is primarily funded by public funds, through real estate tax, personal property tax and sales tax. Eric Hinson began with the District as a volunteer firefighter during 1985, was elected to the Board of Directors for the District in 1997 and as Treasurer of the District in 1999. During January, 2011, he became the Fire Chief for the District while continuing to perform his duties as Treasurer until his resignation from the District on September 28, 2011. As Treasurer, Hinson was responsible for preparing the annual budgets, facilitating the annual financial statement audit, gaining approval from the District's Board of Directors for expenditures, reconciling bank statements and performing other accounting related activities, in the QuickBooks general ledger system, other than for payroll. He also had the ability to access the QuickBooks system remotely from outside the District offices.
According to court documents, Hinson used the District credit cards to pay for family vacations to Hawaii and Florida, to pay for personal items such as sporting goods and other items, limousine rentals, tickets to Six Flags, Big Surf Water Park and other entertainment expenses, restaurant meals, gasoline and hotel rooms, as well as to obtain significant cash advances. Without the knowledge and authority of the District, Hinson directed that these personal credit card charges be paid with District funds. Further, on several occasions, Hinson wrote District checks to pay for his own personal expenses, including checks to Ford Credit for a pickup truck, to Macy's for furniture, to John Deere Credit for tractor parts and checks to Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank for other personal expenses. In order to conceal his scheme, Hinson accessed the District's QuickBooks to alter reported general ledger activity by backdating certain of his fraudulent transactions and by changing the payee in order to manipulate the District's accounting records so as to hide the existence of his fraudulent transactions. Through his fraudulent conduct, Hinson obtained approximately $593,236 from the St. Clair Fire Protection District.
Additionally, Hinson filed false tax returns for the years 2006 through 2010, leaving total additional taxes due of $132,383.ERIC HINSON, St. Clair, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of mail fraud and five felony counts of tax evasion, before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber. Sentencing has been set for May 2, 2013.
Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000; each count of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine of up to $100,000. 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 St. Clair Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.St. Louis Man Sentenced to 20 Years on Drug and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - KELVIN MILLER, St. Louis, MO, pled guilty to four felony counts of possession with the intent to distribute heroin in March 2012. He was scheduled for trial on the remaining two counts of the original indictment. On the first day of trial, January 23, 2013, he pled guilty to two felony counts of being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms, before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Dean Hoag handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
St. Louis Man Sentenced for 2008 Bombing in A Clayton Parking GarageRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Milton Ohlsen III was sentenced to 20 years in prison involving the 2008 bombing in the Carondelet Plaza garage that injured Clayton attorney John L. Gillis.
With his plea last September, Ohlsen admitted that on October 15, 2008, he transported a bomb to the parking garage at 190 Carondelet with the intent that the bomb would cause death or serious bodily injury to the intended victim. He concealed the explosive device in a gift basket and placed the basket next to an Acura TL that he incorrectly believed belonged to the intended victim. On October 16, 2008, the bomb exploded and caused permanent bodily injury to John Gillis, who had moved the basket because it was blocking access to the driver's door of his Acura TL.
MILTON OHLSEN III pled guilty to one felony count each of transportation of explosive with intent to injure; malicious use of an explosive devise; being a previously convicted felon in possession of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber.The case was investigated by ATF, the St. Louis County and Clayton Police Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Evidence Response Team. Prosecutors from both the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the almost three- year-long investigation. First Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Former Finance Director of the Flood Team Pleads Guilty to Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Ruth Jackson pled guilty to embezzling over $40,000 by diverting checks and funds payable to The Flood Team.
The Flood Team provides remediation and restoration services related to water damage, and in August 2011, hired Ruth Jackson as Director of Finance for the business. In that capacity, Jackson had responsibility for a variety of matters relating to the books, records and finances of The Flood Team. Jackson's responsibilities included paying bills, preparing deposits and managing various bank accounts.
According to court documents, Jackson secretly kept an old corporate account open and hidden from the owner of the business. Between November 2011 and late April 2012, Jackson embezzled over $40,000 by diverting checks and funds payable to The Flood Team into the secret account and wrote checks to herself, which she cashed at various locations in the area.
RUTH JACKSON, St. Louis, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of bank fraud before United States District Judge John Ross. Sentencing has been set for May 2, 2013.
Bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or fines up to $1 million.
In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Local Attorney Pleads Gulty to Federal Fraud ChagesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Stephen B. Evans pled guilty to mail and wire fraud charges involving his failure to pay clients and expenses, and instead keeping client insurance money for himself.
According to court documents, between 2007 and 2012, Evans was a local attorney with a general practice, including the representation of people who were injured or had claims based on contract or negligence where he would enter into a contingent fee arrangement. Mr. Evans would receive a certain percentage of any successful settlement. When he prevailed on behalf of his clients, the insurance company would typically mail a check to Evans at his law firm address, Evans Partnership in St. Louis, payable to Evans and his client, which was deposited into Evans' bank account. On many occasions, he kept funds payable to his client and his client's expenses. The amount of money that Evans defrauded his clients is between $70,000 and $120,000.
STEPHEN B. EVANS, St. Louis County, pled guilty to one felony count each of mail and wire fraud before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. Sentencing has been set for April 26, 2013.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Lincoln County Man Indicted on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Matthew M. Hansen was indicted for allegedly attempting to entice minor boys to engage in sexually explicit conduct for him to videotape between 2007 and 2012.
MATTHEW M. HANSEN, Winfield, MO, was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight felony counts of attempted production of child pornography and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
If convicted, each count of attempted production of child pornography carries a penalty range of 15 to 30 years in prison; possession carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and St. Charles County Cyber Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Treasurer of St. Joseph Conference of St. Vincent De Paul Society Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Nancy O’Donnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her embezzlement of donor funds. She was also ordered to pay $209,000 restitution, $192,000 has already been paid.
According to court documents, St. Joseph Catholic Church of Cottleville, Missouri, was a Catholic Church in operation for over 100 years. The St. Vincent de Paul Society was a non-profit organization providing personal assistance with furniture, food, clothing, rent, utilities and other necessities to people facing economic and other crises. The St. Joseph Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is comprised of lay Catholic volunteers collecting and distributing donations to those in need within the St. Joseph parish. Monetary donations are made to the St. Joseph Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society through cash and by check primarily from St. Joseph parishioners.
Nancy O'Donnell served as the Treasurer for the St. Joseph Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society since October 2005. As Treasurer, she was in charge of financial record keeping for the Society, including receiving donations and payments by cash and check, documenting payments received, depositing funds to the Society's bank account and documenting the use of donated funds. The St. Joseph Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society had an authorized bank account for the receipt and disbursement of donations under the Society's actual address. On April 27, 2006, O’Donnell opened a sham checking account in the name of the St. Joseph Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, using her own personal residence address as the business address for this sham account. The Board of Directors of the Society had no knowledge that she had opened this sham account and did not authorize the opening of the account. In opening the sham account, she completed and executed an unauthorized corporate resolution on behalf of the Society, and completed and executed paperwork so that she was the only authorized signer on the sham account. She also maintained a personal checking account in her own name.
As Treasurer of the Society, O’Donnell received donations from individuals by cash or check made out to the Society and, instead of depositing those cash or check donations into the Society's authorized account, she deposited those cash and check donations either into the unauthorized sham account or into her personal account. O’Donnell then wrote checks on both the sham account and the personal account either to herself or to "cash" thereby embezzling, misappropriating and stealing those donated funds, which she used for her own personal purposes, unrelated to the business of the Society. O’Donnell also wrote checks on the Society’s authorized account and deposited those checks into both the sham account and into her personal account, using the funds for personal expenses.
In order to conceal her scheme, all treasurer's reports prepared by O’Donnell and provided by her to the Society included only information from the authorized account and no information from the unauthorized sham account. Further, in order to conceal her scheme, all account statements and correspondence relative to the sham account were mailed to her at her personal residence address, rather than to the Society’s true business address.NANCY O'DONNELL, St. Peters, MO, pled guilty in October to one felony count of mail fraud. She appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge John A. Ross.
This case was investigated by the Cottleville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Two Chicago Area Men Sentenced on Federal Racketeering Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Two Chicago area residents have been sentenced within the past week to federal prison for Racketeering Conspiracy charges in United States District Court in St. Louis.
ANTHONY OWENS, a/k/a“Pharaoh,”of Chicago, IL, was sentenced to 102 months in prison today, after previously pleading guilty to being an accessory after-the-fact to murder and tampering with evidence. TREVOR SEYMOUR, a/k/a “Cyclopse,” of Chicago, IL, was sentenced last week to 120 months in prison for conspiring with other members of the Wheels of Soul to commit a murder in 2009, and kidnapping a member of another motorcycle gang in January 2010. They appeared for sentencing before Chief United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in St. Louis, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in Chicago and the Chicago Police Department.
Former Jackson, Missouri Tax Preparer Indicted for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Cynthia M. Raymond was indicted on multiple fraud counts involving her preparation of 98 false tax returns under the names of 36 clients for the tax years of 2007 through 2010. The indictment alleges that these tax returns under reported taxes in cumulative amounts in excess of $300,000.
According to the indictment, Raymond included false deduction on the returns which resulted in excessive and unlawful refunds. She provided her clients with a different tax return than what was filed with the IRS. The tax refund listed on the tax return Raymond provided to her clients matched the tax refund deposited to their account. She then electronically filed the false tax returns which generated the payment of false refunds which she had directed to her own account. It is alleged that Raymond received $103,000 of direct deposits into her account from the false refunds.
The indictment charges a separate criminal act in which Raymond used the name and social security number of a Jackson-area resident to prepare a completely fabricated tax return for 2009. According to the indictment, Raymond directed the false refund from that return in the amount of $1075 into her own account.
CYNTHIA M. RAYMOND, Kansas City, KS, formerly of Jackson, MO, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on three felony counts of making and filing a false tax return, six felony counts of aiding and assisting in making false tax returns and one felony count of identity fraud. She was arrested by federal agents earlier today at her residence in Kansas City.
If convicted, each of the tax counts carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or fines up to $100,000; identity theft carries a maximum of five years and/or $250,000. 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 Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Crowe, Jr., is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.Former Chief of St. Clair Fire Protection District and Ladue Fire Department Indicted on Federal Fraud and Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO - Eric Hinson was indicted on fraud and multiple tax evasion charges involving his alleged misuse of approximately $593,236 of St. Clair Fire Protection District funds between January 2006 and September 2011. As a result of the federal investigation, Hinson resigned his positions as Chief at both the St. Clair Fire Protection District and the Ladue Fire Department.
The St. Clair Fire Protection District (District) provides fire protection service for Franklin County, Missouri, and has four fire houses, 18 full-time fire fighters and between 25-50 volunteer fire fighters. The District is primarily funded by public funds, through real estate tax, personal property tax and sales tax. Eric Hinson began with the District as a volunteer firefighter during 1985, was elected to the Board of Directors for the District in 1997, and as Treasurer of the District in 1999. During January, 2011, he became the Fire Chief for the District while continuing to perform his duties as Treasurer until his resignation from the District on September 28, 2011. As Treasurer, Hinson was responsible for preparing the annual budgets, facilitating the annual financial statement audit, gaining approval from the District's Board of Directors for expenditures, reconciling bank statements and performing other accounting related activities, in the QuickBooks general ledger system, other than for payroll. He also had the ability to access the QuickBooks system remotely from outside the District offices.
According to the indictment, Hinson used the District credit cards to pay for family vacations to Hawaii and Florida, to pay for personal items such as sporting goods and other items, limousine rentals, tickets to Six Flags, Big Surf Water Park and other entertainment expenses, restaurant meals, gasoline and hotel rooms, as well as to obtain significant cash advances. Without the knowledge and authority of the District, Hinson directed that these personal credit card charges be paid with District funds. Further, on several occasions, Hinson wrote District checks to pay for his own personal expenses, including checks to Ford Credit for a pickup truck, to Macy's for furniture, to John Deere Credit for tractor parts and checks to Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank for other personal expenses. The indictment states that in order to conceal his scheme, Hinson accessed the District's QuickBooks to alter reported general ledger activity by backdating certain of his fraudulent transactions and by changing the payee in order to manipulate the District's accounting records so as to hide the existence of his fraudulent transactions. Through his fraudulent conduct, Hinson obtained approximately $593,236 from the St. Clair Fire Protection District.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Hinson filed false tax returns for five years, 2006 through 2010, under reporting his taxes during those years in a combined amount of approximately $400,000.
ERIC HINSON, St. Clair, MO, was indicted by a federal grand jury today on one felony count of mail fraud and five felony counts of tax evasion.
If convicted, mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000; each count of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine of up to $100,000. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.