Western District of Missouri

WASHINGTON — A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed today, Owen McIntire, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”

“Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”

“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack,” said Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCMOPD) in the vicinity of the Kansas City (KC) Tesla Center observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also observed an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. KCMOPD recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Note: View the affidavit here.

A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed today, Owen McIntire, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”

“Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 

“This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”

“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack,” said Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCMOPD) in the vicinity of the Kansas City (KC) Tesla Center observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also observed an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. KCMOPD recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States.

Jose Raul Falcon-Reyes, 36, plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States. Falcon-Reyes was previously convicted of improper entry by an alien in 2015 and was subsequently deported to Mexico that same year.

On February 15, 2025, he was arrested in Pettis County, Mo., for having been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance.

Falcon-Reyes faces up to two years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes will impose sentencing on August 28, 2025.

He has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons.

Fedo A. Manning, 24, plead guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to the aforementioned charge.

By pleading guilty today, Fedo Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the conspirators trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law.   Fedo Manning agreed that his role in the conspiracy was to serve as a straw purchaser.  He bought firearms from federal firearms licensees so that they could later be sold by co-conspirators to individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms.  Between May 11, 2022, and Jan. 13, 2023, investigators discovered that Fedo Manning purchased at least 40 firearms from federal firearms licensees.  In the plea agreement, Fedo Manning acknowledged that at least seven of the firearms that he purchased were recovered during investigations of crimes in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

One of the recovered firearms purchased by Fedo Manning was discovered at the scene of the shooting that occurred during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024.  The recovered firearm was an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, .223-caliber pistol. The loaded pistol was found along the wall with a backpack next to two AR-15-style firearms and backpacks. Because the pistol was in the “fire” position and there were 26 live rounds in the magazine, which is capable of holding 30 rounds, several rounds may have been fired before it was discarded.

Under federal statutes, Fedo Manning is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who defrauded a local financial institution of $652,784.34 in funds was sentenced in federal court today for bank fraud and money laundering.

Maximillian D. Howell, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 21 months in federal prison without parole.  The court also ordered Howell to pay restitution of $231,841.84 to the financial institution.  In addition, the court entered a final order of money judgment forfeiture of $88,123.08.

Beginning in 2015, Howell, through several of his companies, worked on numerous development projects within the City of Kansas City, Missouri. These projects were often funded through the HOME grant and CDBG. These grants were awarded to the City of Kansas City, Missouri by HUD. Other projects were funded from reimbursement-based lines of credit established at the financial institution and the General Fund of the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

To facilitate his acquisition of land to develop residential properties for sale, Howell obtained lines of credit with the financial institution, a Missouri state-chartered banking association, having an office in Kansas City, Missouri.

As the projects were under construction, the financial institution, which had promised Howell construction loans, would periodically lend Howell money based on his line of credit or the overall amount of his construction loans. These periodic loans are typically referred to as construction draws.

Howell was to draw construction loan proceeds by submitting certified draw requests, signed by him, which contained statements describing the work completed and the amount owed for that work. Howell submitted or caused to be submitted numerous such draw requests to the financial institution.

It was a part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that Howell would enter into and maintain loan agreements with the financial institution for funding five real estate development projects, to wit:  Second and Delaware, 1220 Beacon Hill Lane, 2101 Garfield Avenue, 2645 Madison Avenue, and 2709 Holmes Street (collectively referred to as the “Development Projects”).

Howell, doing business through his companies, executed and presented false and fraudulent draw requests to the financial institution, predicated in whole or in part upon false claims of incurred costs, for disbursement of funds in support of the Development Projects.

Howell caused to be created false and fraudulent documentation of expenses supposedly incurred upon the Development Projects, totaling $652,784.34, paid by the financial institution to Howell.

The court ordered Howell to self-surrender on May 27, 2025.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for possessing and transferring four machine gun conversion devices.

Marquelle D. Love, also known as “Q,” 22, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, to one count of illegally possessing machine guns – three Glock-type machine gun conversion devices, and an AR-type machine gun conversion device.

On Jan. 17, 2024, Love sold an AR-drop-in auto sear and three metal Glock-type switches to an undercover agent for $780.

Machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law. It is therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices.

Under federal statutes, Love is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman plead guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer.

Jennifer L. Cabral, 51, plead guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana Counts to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.

By pleading guilty today, Cabral admitted that she stole approximately $306,034.28 from her employer’s bank account and used those funds for her personal benefit and use. As part of the scheme, Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to her own personal bank accounts through the employer’s online account at a local financial institution.  Cabral used those funds for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car, which was forfeited as part of the plea agreement.

Under federal statutes, Cabral is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on the bank fraud count and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for filing a false claim as part of a scheme to fraudulently receive nearly $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the government.

Richard Dean Schiele, Jr., 51, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to a year and a day imprisonment and ordered to pay $130,125.09 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES” Act) provided for an Employee Retention Credit designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The Employee Retention Credit is available to eligible employers that paid qualified wages to some or all employees after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2022.

In his guilty plea, Schiele admitted he filed nine Employer’s Quarterly Tax Return forms with the IRS on April 22, 2023, for a company he formed the same month called Schiele Family Own Distribution. The returns made a total of $1,392,716 in claims for COVID–19 pandemic era credits against the company’s ostensible employment taxes. In reality, Schiele admitted, the company did not have any employees in 2020 through 2022.

Based on these false claims, the IRS issued checks totaling $478,890 to Schiele. The Treasury Department recovered $348,764.91 from Schiele’s bank account. Under the terms of today’s sentence, Schiele must pay $130,125 in restitution to the IRS.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, MO man pled guilty in federal court today to conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to illegally trafficking firearms, to include a handgun that was converted into a machinegun.

Antonio Manning, 23, pled guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to the aforementioned charges.

By pleading guilty today, Antonio Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law.  According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law.  Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun.

On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, the brother of Antonio Manning, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.

On April 07, 2025, co-defendant Michael Dewayne Hardy pled guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.

Under federal statutes, Antonio Manning is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for victimizing two children to produce child pornography.

Russell Myers, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough on Tuesday, April 8, to 25 years for each of two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of 50 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Myers to a lifetime term of supervised release following incarceration.

Myers will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On Sept. 26, 2024, Myers pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Myers admitted to using minor victims, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe” and “John Doe,” to produce child pornography from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20, 2024.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Waynesville, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for sharing child pornography over the internet.

Michael Howard Collard, 44, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Collard to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration and to pay $3,000 in restitution to his victims. Collard has been in federal custody since his arrest.

Collard will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On June 17, 2024, Collard pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, Collard admitted that he used Kik messenger to share images of child sexual abuse material with an undercover law enforcement officer.

On May 4, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Collard’s residence and seized Collard’s Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Kyocera E6920 cell phones. A forensic evaluation found evidence of the receipt and distribution of child pornography on the phones, including over 160 images and 90 videos.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate cases this week for dealing in firearms without a license and other offense.

A California, Missouri Man Indicted for Dealing Firearms without a License and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm

According to an indictment returned this week, Aubrey Foxworthy, 81, of California, Missouri, was charged with dealing firearms in Morgan and Moniteau Counties from approximately June 2, 2023 through September 9, 2024.  He did not have a federal firearms license to deal firearms.  Foxworthy was also charged with possession of a rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches and that rifle was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

A Popular Bluff, Missouri Man Indicted for Dealing Firearms without a License

According to an indictment returned this week, Philip Leroy Rains, 75, of Popular Bluff, Missouri, was charged with dealing firearms in Morgan County from approximately April 1, 2023 through April 4, 2024.  He did not have a federal firearms license to deal firearms.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted of dealing in firearms without a license, a prison sentence of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000 is authorized.  Under federal statutes, if convicted of possession of an unregistered firearm, a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000 is authorized.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness. These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Jefferson City Police Department, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for his leadership role in a large-scale drug-trafficking organization in southwest Missouri that resulted in the overdose deaths of at least two people.

Delante Leon Worsham, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

On Jan. 29, 2024, Worsham pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Worsham admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Christian and Greene counties from Sept. 23, 2018 to Nov. 14, 2019.

During a Sept. 23, 2018, traffic stop in Springfield, Mo., law enforcement officers located 21.50 grams of fentanyl in Worsham’s vehicle. On Nov. 15, 2019, Worsham was arrested in Springfield with approximately $2,390 in cash and a golf-ball sized bag containing smaller bags of fentanyl totaling 30 grams. Worsham admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl from both incidents and that the money was proceeds from a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Worsham further admitted to “cutting” fentanyl with heroin and powdered sugar in order to maximize his profit.

According to court documents, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that Missouri was one of only nine states west of the Mississippi River with an age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths of more than 21.1 per 100,000 in 2020. Court documents also cite a widely reported analysis of CDC data by Families Against Fentanyl that fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death among adults between ages 18 and 45 in the United States.

Worsham is the eleventh defendant to be sentenced in this case, among 14 defendants who have pleaded guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Eatmon and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bourbon, Mo., Police Department, and the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Polk County, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing and distributing child pornography, and for being a registered sex offender at the time that crime was committed.

Merle Glenn Daniels, Jr., 46, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 20 years for his conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography, and 10 years for his conviction for being a registered sex offender at the time he committed the offense. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Daniels to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.

Daniels has prior Greene County, Mo., convictions for statutory rape and statutory sodomy involving a 14-year-old victim, which require him to register as a sex offender.

On May 9, 2024, Daniels pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of child pornography and to being a registered sex offender at the time the crime was committed. Daniels admitted that he was a registered sex offender and used text messages to impersonate a minor so he could exchange sexually explicit texts, images, and videos with the minor victim in November and December of 2022.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Greene County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Polk County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, the Springfield, Mo. Police Department, and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Iowa man was sentenced today for bank fraud.

Roger Dean Peters, 71, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to twelve months and one day in federal prison.

Peters pleaded guilty to a single count of bank fraud on May 30, 2024. In his plea agreement, he admitted that he had kited checks between accounts at Exchange Bank of Missouri and First National Bank of Hampton, Iowa, creating fictitious balances that he perpetuated by continuing to write more and more checks. When the scheme collapsed, the bank estimated the total overdraft amount to be $2,882,904.20, exclusive of unpaid fees and other expenses. During the same time, Peters also held a line of credit, and used an intermediary to make fraudulent claims on the line of credit.

Peters’s sentence also included a two year term of supervised release, and an order of restitution.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Georgia man was sentenced in federal court for his role in an online romance scam with elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 24 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Obafemi to three years of supervised release following incarceration and ordered him to pay restitution of $311,520 to the victims of his crime.

On April 18, 2024, Obafemi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Obafemi admitted to his participation in a romance scam which targeted victims in Taney County, Mo., Northfield, Minn., and Bergen County, N.J., from June 2016 through at least March 2018.

The perpetrators of the romance scams used online communications to develop relationships with the victims. The scammers then began to request money from the victims for a variety of reasons, including business expenses, medical expenses, travel expenses, and food.

According to court records, the Taney County victim was contacted via Facebook by an individual claiming to be “Kevin Condon” in May 2016. Following several conversations by email, phone, and Facebook, “Condon” convinced the victim to send him money for expenses related to his overseas business project and various medical issues. Conspirators stole a total of $27,460 from the Taney County victim. “Condon” also attempted to convince the victim to deposit $40,000 into an account controlled by Obafemi, purportedly to pay a court in South Africa for his release from jail.

Obafemi conspired with the perpetrators to receive wire transfers from the victims, coordinating the necessary bank account information, the timing of transfers, and the transfer of funds across accounts. Obafemi received funds in his personal accounts as well as those of two businesses, EasyTickets, LLC, and Goeasy Logistics, LLC, which he owned and operated out of his Georgia residence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Northfield, Minn., Police Department.

Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its elder fraud enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Mo., man was charged in a three-count indictment issued by a federal grand jury charging him with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography.

Jacob Stockglausner, 38, was charged in a three-count indictment on April 8, 2025.  The indictment alleges that Stockglausner used a minor child under the age of twelve to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction. The indictment also alleges that Stockglausner distributed a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct using the social media platform Kik.  Stockglausner is also charged with possession of child pornography involving a minor who was prepubescent or less than twelve years of age.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted, Stockglausner faces federal prison sentences of up to thirty years on the production of child pornography count and twenty years on the distribution and possession counts to be served without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Pierce and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Cyber Crime Task Force with assistance from the FBI and Callaway County Sheriff’s Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former Columbia Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and possessing child pornography.

Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carmargo-Wasserman to 10 years of supervised release following  his release from custody. Carmargo-Wasserman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On August 8, 2024, Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

The investigation began on July 1, 2010, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of child pornography over the internet.  During a search warrant execution, Camargo-Wasserman admitted to using Limewire to download child pornography.  Multiple videos depicting child pornography were found on Camargo-Wasserman’s cell phone.  Camargo-Wasserman was previously indicted on federal charges for this offense in 2010, however in 2013, a bail bond agent provided documentation from Mexico stating Camargo-Wasserman had died on October 5, 2012.  Federal charges were dismissed.

In July 2017, the FBI received information that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and was residing in Mexico. Federal charges were filed again in 2018 followed by extradition proceedings to return Camargo-Wasserman to the United States.  Camargo-Wasserman was brought to the United States to face charges in 2024. Camargo-Wasserman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Mexico.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Robert Michael Matthews, 42, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo.

The indictment charges Matthews with possessing a Ruger model American, 9-millimeter pistol on March 13, 2025. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. According to the indictment, Matthews has prior violent felony convictions to include a 2000 conviction for robbery in the second degree, a 2015 conviction for unlawful use of a weapon, and a 2024 conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Maness It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson City Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate cases this week for illegally re-entering the United States after they were previously deported.

Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry

According to an indictment returned this week, Fernando Herrera-Cruz, who was previously removed from the United States on March 30, 2022, was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.  He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States.  On March 18, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States in Camden County, Missouri, when he was arrest for driving without a valid driver’s license following a single vehicle accident.

El Salvadoran National Charged in Indictment

In addition, Guadalupe De Jesus Aldana Sandoval a/k/a “Edgar Navarro Melendez”, who was previously removed from the United States on November 13. 2009, was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States.  On March 25, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States when he was located in Pettis County, Missouri.

The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

These cases were investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Take Back America

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jeffrey Ray, Acting United State Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the annual Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to Tina Sutter.

The award, presented annually during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April, honors the memory of Ali Kemp and Crystal Kipper, both of whom were fatal victims of tragic crimes.

Ray presented the award to Tina Sutter, retired Victim/Witness Specialist, during a ceremony today. Tina Sutter provided support to victims of crime at the U.S Attorney’s Office for the past 21 years. Tina worked tirelessly to ensure that victims and witnesses of federal crimes were treated fairly, that their privacy was respected, and that they were treated with dignity and respect. Tina was committed to helping victims and witnesses of crime while they were involved with the federal criminal justice system, and providing support after their case was completed.

In presenting the award, Ray noted the theme for the 2025 Crime Victims’ Rights week is “KINSHIP, Connecting and Healing.” This year’s theme is a call-to-action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections and increases access to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins “With her compassionate and caring approach, Tina connected with countless victims of crime as they navigated the criminal justice system, accessed services, and sought healing,” said Ray.

Ray presented the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Award alongside Anna Kipper Rea, the mother of Crystal Kipper, and Jill and Bob Leiker of the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, an organization founded by the late Roger Kemp, the father of Ali Kemp.

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award

This is the 21st year for the award to be presented in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after she ran out of gas on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in recognition of a valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, man has been sentenced in federal court for the sexual exploitation of a child.

Wilbert Ballard, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Ballard to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration. Ballard will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On December 3, 2024, Ballard pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.

The investigation began on June 11, 2023, when Jefferson City Police Officers were contacted by an individual who had found video evidence of the defendant engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a six-year-old child.  Officers performed an extraction on Mr. Ballard’s cellular phone and located the video described by the witness.  Based upon the video, the child may have been asleep while the act was being done and the video created.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Jefferson City Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo. man has been indicted today by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.  

Latrell Dashon Batts, 27, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City.  The indictment alleges that Batts was in possession of a Smith & Wesson pistol and ammunition on March 10, 2025.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Batts has prior felony convictions for assault in the second degree and accessory forcible stealing.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted, Batts is subject to a sentence of up to fifteen years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecily L. Hicks. It was investigated Jefferson City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Illinois man was sentenced today for possession of a stolen firearm.

Steven Ray Dennis, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 120 months in federal prison without parole.

On July 7, 2020, Dennis pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information, admitting that he possessed a stolen firearm. According to his plea agreement, an officer with the Columbia, Mo. Police Department had been notified by private security for a local bar that a man in a Chicago Bulls hat and jacket was going to his vehicle to get a firearm. The officer located Dennis, who matched that description, but when asked if he had any guns on him, Dennis began to run. He was arrested after a brief foot chase during which he discarded his hat and jacket. When officers located the Chicago Bulls jacket, it contained a .32 caliber revolver in the pocket. The revolver was stolen and loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Dennis also had prior felony convictions.

Although Dennis pleaded guilty in 2020, government court filings indicated that he subsequently failed to report and was a fugitive until he was arrested in the Chicago area in January 2025.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo. Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –  A former Kansas City, MO man plead guilty in federal court today to conspiring to commit bank fraud against two local financial institutions.

Fremon Reaves Jr., 22, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

By pleading guilty today, Reaves Jr. admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to commit bank fraud by defrauding FDIC-insured financial institutions of money.  On July 1, 2022, an investigator with a local financial institution contacted FBI Kansas City to report an alleged check fraud scheme in the Kansas City area. The fraud scheme consisted of individuals being recruited via social media to voluntarily provide their debit cards and PIN numbers to the fraudsters. The fraudsters would then deposit fraudulent checks into the customers’ accounts. The investigator determined that similar check card stocks were used, similar dollar values were used on the checks, and the same two individuals, eventually identified, with one of them being the defendant, Fremon Reaves Jr., were seen in surveillance videos making the deposits. These co-defendants would make cash withdrawals at ATMs, debit card purchases, and transfer money via Cash App. Through its investigation, the FBI was able to determine that two FDIC-insured financial institutions in the Kansas City area where being targeted as victims of this scheme.  The evidence discovered in the investigation indicated the scheme began in April 2022 and continued until at least September 2022 with the actual loss incurred being approximately $90,000 with an intended loss of approximately $400,000.

The co-defendant, Gerald Humphreys Jr., pled guilty to the same offense on March 28th and is also awaiting a sentencing hearing.

Under federal statutes, Reaves Jr. is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of criminal investigators from the two financial institutions.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, MO, man was arrested today following an indictment by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child pornography, as well as transferring obscene material to a minor.

Matthew R. Taylor, 42, was charged in a five-count indictment on March 26, 2025, which was unsealed following his arrest today. Those charges include one count of receiving child pornography on or about April 2, 2022, one count of possessing child pornography on or about May 17, 2023, and three counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor between approximately April 2, 2022, and February 10, 2023.

Taylor is alleged to have been engaged in explicit sexual communications with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old child.  On or about April 2, 2022, he received multiple images of a minor engaged in sexual acts with an adult male.  On at least three occasions between April 2, 2022, and February 10, 2023, Taylor sent obscene images to a person he believed to be a minor within the context of his sexual communications with the minor.  A federal search warrant was executed at Taylor’s residence in Lee’s Summit, MO, and additional images of suspected child pornography were discovered in his possession.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted, Taylor is subject to a sentence of at least five years, and up to seventy years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, MO, woman was arrested today following a five-count indictment by a federal grand jury charging her with defrauding an elderly victim of over $1 million dollars.

Amanda Sargent, 35, was charged in a five-count indictment on March 26, 2025, which was unsealed following her arrest today.  The indictment alleges that Sargent defrauded an elderly victim she met on Facebook. Sargent made false claims to the victim and received over $1,000,000 over a nearly two-year period.   

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by an elderly woman who reported that she believed herself to be a victim of fraud by Sargent. The woman met Sargent in a Facebook group that connected those experiencing homelessness to helpful resources in the Kansas City area. In late 2021, Sargent posted a request to this group seeking help to pay for car repairs and the woman responded by sending a small amount of money. Over the next nearly two years, Sargent made false claims that she needed help paying medical bills for her and her children, rent, utilities, and even assistance paying for a kidney transplant. The victim believed she was helping a young family in need and sent Sargent over $1,000,000 from late 2021 until mid-2023. Sargent’s claims were false, and she withdrew all the donations in cash for her own use.   

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Under federal statutes, if convicted, Sargent faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Hanson. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Warrensburg, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing and possessing child pornography.

William Aloys Wameling, Jr., 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a total sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wameling to a lifetime term of supervised release following incarceration. Wameling was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $99,000 to the victims of his offenses.

On Aug. 27, 2024, Wameling pleaded guilty to the charges. Wameling has a prior conviction for possession of child pornography.

Wameling will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and the Johnson Co. Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sullivan, Mo., man who was arrested in southwest Missouri with 16.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 4.7 pounds of fentanyl has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Tyler Kittrell, 38, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Kittrell on Feb. 24, 2025.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Kittrell was stopped on Interstate 44 by Joplin, Mo., police officers on Feb. 14, 2025. When officers searched his vehicle, they found $13,120 in cash and multiple packages containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers seized approximately 7,658 grams of methamphetamine and 2,142 grams of fentanyl from inside the vehicle.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National, residing in Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and firearms.

Roberto Rosales Gonzales, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Gonzales’s residence. During the search of the residence, officers found 59 firearms of various calibers, including two suspected machine guns, assorted ammunition, a firearm silencer, and an inert hand grenade. Officers also found approximately 114.1 grams of suspected fentanyl pills, approximately 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 31.4 grams of suspected heroin, and more than $22,000 in cash.

Under federal statutes, Gonzales is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Springfield, Mo. – A Phoenix, Ariz. man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.

Joseph A. Gilbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 240 months in federal prison without parole. The Court also ordered Gilbert to forfeit to the government $616,756 which represents the proceeds of Gilbert’s drug trafficking.

On Nov. 19, 2024, Gilbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Gilbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry, Stone, Polk, Lawrence, Green, Jasper, and Newton Counties from Nov. 1, 2020, to April 28, 2022. According to court documents, Gilbert served as a source of methamphetamine supply for the drug trafficking organization. During the conspiracy Gilbert distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine from Arizona into southwest Missouri.

On April 23, 2022, MSHP attempted a traffic stop of a red Chevrolet Captiva Gilbert was driving on eastbound Interstate 44. Gilbert fled from the scene and led law enforcement on high-speed pursuit on the interstate to southbound Missouri Hwy 43 near Seneca, Mo. During the pursuit, Gilbert failed to stop at red lights, overtook traffic at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, and swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a tire deflation device. Later that day, Gilbert was located in Ottawa County, Okla. in possession of methamphetamine and approximately 100 M-30 pills (containing fentanyl).

Gilbert is among 18 defendants in this case who have pleaded guilty. Gilbert is the seventh defendant to be sentenced.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, COMET (the Combined Ozark Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team), the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa County, Ok., Sheriff’s Department, the Bolivar, Mo., Police Department, the Cassville, Mo., Police Department, the Kimberling City, Mo., Police Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate cases this week for illegally re-entering the United States after they were previously deported.

Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry

According to an indictment returned this week, Jesus Enriquez-Vasquez, 32, who was previously removed from the United States on January 24, 2019, was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.  He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States.  On March 3, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States.

Guatemalan National Charged in Indictment

In addition, Victor Hugo Vasquez Perez, 31, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Independence, Mo.,  was found illegally present in the United States and charged with possession of a fraudulent immigration document, possession of identification documents unlawfully produced, and improper entry.  

Honduran National Charged in Indictment

In addition, Noe Alberto Hernandez-Perez, 31, a citizen of Honduras residing in Kansas City, Mo.,  was charged with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and resisting and impeding an officer.

According to the indictment, Hernandez-Perez was previously removed from the United States on June 12, 2015. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to reenter the United States. On March 16, 2025, he was found voluntarily back in the United States.   

The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

These cases were investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Take Back America

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man was charged in a federal indictment this week with aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number.

Romeo Perez-Bravo, 42, has been charged with using a stolen identity to obtain employment and state issued identification cards since 2009. The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General received a referral from the St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department that a man had been fraudulently living and working under a Minnesota man’s identity. SSA-OIG identified him as Perez-Bravo who had been living in St. Joseph and working for local area employers under that identity for several years. The victim reported the identity theft when he began to receive unpaid income tax bills from the IRS.   

If convicted, Perez-Bravo faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence for identity theft and up to five years for misusing the social security number.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case was investigated by Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), ICE Homeland Security Investigations, St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department, and the Olivia, Minnesota Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien Previously Convicted of a Felony. He was also sentenced for violating the terms of his supervised release related to an earlier conviction for the same crime.

Omar Zamora-Guerra, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to six years and two months in federal prison without parole.

On September 11, 2024, Zamora-Guerra pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after committed a felony. Zamora-Guerra admitted he knew he did not have permission to enter or remain in the United States lawfully.

Under federal law it is illegal for an alien to knowingly re-enter the United States without permission after being convicted of a felony. Zamora-Guerra was previously convicted in the Western District of Missouri of illegal re-entry after a felony in October of 2020 and served 37 months in federal prison. After his release, he was removed from the country to his native Mexico, but returned sometime prior to his arrest on this charge in May of 2024. This is Zamora-Guerra’s third conviction for illegally re-entering the country. He also has a past conviction for assault for which he spent time in state prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Hanson. It was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was charged in federal court today following his arrest during the execution of a federal search warrant yesterday.

Jose Valencia-Soriano, 23, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, March 28.  As set forth in the attached complaint, Valencia-Soriano is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm  Valencia-Soriano was arrested yesterday and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on Thursday, March 27, agents with the Kansas City Field Division of the FBI, assisted by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, were executing a federal search warrant at a home in the Kansas City area. According to the affidavit, during the execution of this warrant, Valencia-Soriano was discovered at the location, in addition to approximately 102 lbs. of finished crystal methamphetamine, over 406 lbs. of liquids containing methamphetamine in various states, three firearms in the main bedroom, and $48,634 in cash.  Two of the firearms recovered had been listed as stolen.  The underlying investigation is out of the St. Louis area and is primarily being handled by the St. Louis Field Division of the FBI.

"FBI St. Louis prioritized this drug trafficking investigation after we confirmed this defendant entered the U.S. illegally," said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. "With the help of our law enforcement partners, we seized a large quantity of illicit drugs to include 100 pounds of finished crystal meth and 406 pounds of liquid that contained meth."

“This case serves as an important reminder that, in addition to fentanyl, large quantities of other dangerous drugs, in this case methamphetamine, are still a significant problem in our community.  This office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute every one of these cases with the goal of making our communities a safer place to live,” said Acting United States Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray for the Western District of Missouri.

A courtesy copy of the complaint is attached to this release.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Kansas City and St. Louis Field Divisions of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rolla Area Drug Enforcement. HSI and KCMOPD also assisted with the execution of the warrant yesterday.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Attachments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Darren M. Wood, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Wednesday, March 26, to 5 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 20, 2024, Wood pleaded guilty to one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

On Sept. 15, 2023, officers from the Belton, Mo. Police Department were dispatched on a suspicious activity call for someone sleeping in a vehicle.  Wood exited the vehicle when officers began approaching the vehicle.

Officers observed a Glock 19, 9mm pistol in the front driver’s seat.  The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and a fully loaded 15-round magazine. Officers searched Wood and located over $3,000 cash.  Officers searched the vehicle and located 285 blue tablets labeled “M30” which contained fentanyl, 20 alprazolam tablets, 4 clonazepam tablets, and 2 bottles containing liquid promethazine.

Wood also possessed a black AR-15 style rifle with a loaded magazine and no serial number, which officers located in the vehicle’s trunk.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings It was investigated by the Belton, Mo. Police Department, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –  A former Kansas City, MO man plead guilty in federal court today to conspiring to commit bank fraud against two local financial institutions.

Gerald Humphrey Jr., 30, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

By pleading guilty today, Humphrey, Jr. admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to commit bank fraud by defrauding FDIC-insured financial institutions of money.  On July 1, 2022, an investigator with a local financial institution contacted FBI Kansas City to report an alleged check fraud scheme in the Kansas City area. The fraud scheme consisted of individuals being recruited via social media to voluntarily provide their debit cards and PIN numbers to the fraudsters. The fraudsters would then deposit fraudulent checks into the customers’ accounts. The investigator determined that similar check card stocks were used, similar dollar values were used on the checks, and the same two individuals, eventually identified, with one of them being the defendant, Gerald Humphrey Jr., were seen in surveillance videos making the deposits. These co-defendants would make cash withdrawals at ATMs, debit card purchases, and transfer money via Cash App. Through its investigation, the FBI was able to determine that two FDIC insured financial institutions in the Kansas City area where being targeted as victims of this scheme.  The evidence discovered in the investigation indicated the scheme began in April 2022 and continued until at least September 2022 with the actual loss incurred being approximately $90,000 with an intended loss of approximately $400,000.

Under federal statutes, Humphrey Jr. is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of criminal investigators from the two financial institutions.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Hammond, Ind., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing three firearms.

Roosevelt Nevels, Jr., 35, formerly of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 8 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 7, 2024, Nevels, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.

On Nov. 7, 2021, officers of the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department were dispatched to Research Medical Center regarding a reported shooting. Nevels, Jr., who was the injured person, reported he was caught in between two vehicles shooting at one another at 7033 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo.  Nevels, Jr. reported that he was shot in the hand.  Officers investigated Nevels Jr.’s account and were not able to locate evidence or witnesses to support his report of the shooting.

Upon further investigation, officers responded to Nevels, Jr.’s residence in Kansas City, Mo., where they located a blood trail in front of the house, leading to the door.  The officers knocked on the front door, and a juvenile answered.  The officers observed more blood on the living room floor of the residence.

The officers entered the residence to ensure no one inside was injured.  They observed an AR-style pistol and a large amount of blood in a bedroom.

Investigators were granted a search warrant for the residence. While executing the search warrant, investigators recovered three firearms: a SCCY CPX-1, 9mm, pistol; a SCCY CPX-2, 9mm, pistol; and an FM-9, AR-style pistol.  All the firearms were loaded.  The AR-style pistol had damage near the trigger guard, appearing that the trigger guard was shot.  The live round of ammunition in the chamber had blood on it.

Investigators also located a bullet fragment and two spent 9mm shell casings in the bedroom where the firearms were located and two cases containing 50 live .22 caliber rounds of ammunition in the kitchen.

Forensic investigators determined DNA samples recovered from the grips and trigger guards of all three firearms implicated Nevels, Jr. as a major contributor.   

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Nevels, Jr. was convicted of the felony offenses of endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest in 2018.  Nevels, Jr. also has felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon – carrying concealed and unlawful use of a weapon – discharge/shoot firearm at a motor vehicle.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings.  It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to burglarize beauty product and liquor stores across seven states.

Gary Bailey, 24, Jermaine Threat, 25, and Dalvin Poindexter, 26, were charged in a nine-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 4, 2024. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following the arrest and initial court appearances of Bailey and Poindexter.

The federal indictment alleges that Bailey, Threat, and Poindexter stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise during a series of business burglaries from March 2023 to January 2024.

According to the indictment, the conspirators targeted beauty product and liquor stores in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, and Texas. The conspirators smashed the storefront door or window glass to enter the stores afterhours and then stole fragrances, cosmetics, liquor, spirits, and other merchandise. The conspirators allegedly used posts on Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Stories, as well as group chat text messages, to sell the stolen goods and received payment in cash or through peer-to-peer payment services like CashApp. The indictment says they also kept some of the stolen items for themselves or gave it away to their friends and family.

In addition to the conspiracy, Bailey, Threat, and Poindexter are charged together in seven counts of transporting stolen property across state lines.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Constance. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Olathe, Kansas, Police Department, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Derby, KS, Belton, MO, Blue Springs, MO, Columbia, MO, Creve Coeur, MO, Edwardsville, KS, Fairview Heights, IL, Kansas City, MO, Kansas City, KS, Lawrence, KS, Leawood, KS, Lee’s Summit, MO, Lenexa, KS, Liberty, MO, Olathe, KS, Omaha, NE, Overland, Park, KS, Papillion, NE, Parkville, MO, Plainfield, IN, Plano, TX, Platte City, MO, Shawnee, KS, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO, Terre Haute, IN, Topeka, KS, and West Des Moines, IA.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Mario Alberto Hernandez-Lugo, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to six years in federal prison without parole.

On August 1, 2024, Hernandez-Lugo pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Hernandez-Lugo admitted he was in possession of a Beretta, 9mm pistol and .45 caliber and 9mm ammunition following his arrest during a traffic stop by Independence, Missouri Police Officers on May 28, 2023.     

Under federal law it is illegal for any alien knowingly illegally or unlawfully in the United States to possess a firearm or ammunition. Hernandez-Lugo admitted he was in the United States illegally, having been previously deported and removed from the United States.  At sentencing District Judge Greg Kays noted that Hernandez-Lugo had previously been deported or removed from the United States on seven separate occasions. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Kansas City and Independence, Missouri Police Departments, and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bryce A. LaNear, 27, Springfield, Mo., was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes today to 15 years in federal court following his guilty plea and convictions for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine as well as distribution of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of $7,950 seized from LaNear that were proceeds of LaNear’s drug distribution activity.

As LaNear admitted in his plea agreement, from April of 2017 to October of 2019, he conspired with others to distribute cocaine and more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine as well as possessing firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy.  On April 19, 2017, LaNear was arrested in possession of cocaine and methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to other persons as well as five firearms which he possessed in furtherance of his drug distribution activity. LaNear also sold cocaine to undercover Springfield, Missouri, police officers in August, September and December of 2017.  On April 11, 2018, members of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield Police Department executed a search warrant on LaNear’s residence and discovered additional amounts of methamphetamine and another firearm. In May of 2018, Springfield Police Officers seized additional amounts of methamphetamine and another firearm from LaNear.  The investigation concluded with the seizure on October 2, 2019, of over 5 kilograms of methamphetamine from one of LaNear’s codefendants.  In total, LaNear was responsible for the distribution of over 9 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 3 kilograms of cocaine in the Springfield, Missouri, area.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and Assistant United States Attorney Cameron Beaver.  It was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Reeds, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.

Kimberly C. Elliott, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

On June 8, 2023, Elliott pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering.

Elliott admitted that she participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry, Stone, Polk, Lawrence, Greene, Jasper, and Newton Counties from Nov. 1, 2020, to April 28, 2022. According to court documents, Elliott personally distributed more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine, an extremely conservative estimate for her involvement. During this conspiracy, law enforcement seized more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine from various co-conspirators.

Elliott sold 62 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer on May 3, 2021. At the time of that transaction, Elliott was in possession of at least an additional pound of methamphetamine.

On May 12, 2021, Elliott traded her red Chevrolet Colorado for a black 2017 Ford Explorer. Elliott purchased this vehicle with approximately $15,000 from the proceeds of unlawful methamphetamine distribution. Elliott was arrested while driving the Explorer without a driver’s license on June 16, 2021. Elliott had approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine, approximately nine grams of marijuana, and six hydrocodone tablets in her purse. A user quantity of suspected heroin and methamphetamine was located in the driver’s side door pocket of the vehicle, and approximately $7,165 in cash was found in a zipper bag between the driver’s seat and center console.

Elliott told investigators she had obtained one pound of methamphetamine approximately two days prior to the traffic stop from a co-conspirator, and what was located in her vehicle was what was left from that transaction. Elliott stated she had been purchasing methamphetamine for the past two months and estimated she had purchased between five and 10 pounds of methamphetamine. She also investigators that conspirators were receiving shipments of 250 pounds of methamphetamine every two weeks from California.

Elliott is among 20 defendants who have been convicted in this case, and the fourth defendant to be sentenced.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, COMET (the Combined Ozark Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team), the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa County, Ok., Sheriff’s Department, the Bolivar, Mo., Police Department, the Cassville, Mo., Police Department, the Kimberling City, Mo., Police Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two brothers have been indicted by a federal grand jury for refusing to vacate properties seized by the IRS and for fraudulently attempting to prevent the sale of those properties to satisfy nearly $1.4 million in unpaid federal income taxes.

William Phillip Jackson, 67, of Stark City, Mo., and his brother, Stephen Lee Jackson, 66, of Pierce City, Mo., were charged in a six-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of William and Stephen Jackson. William Jackson remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, March 5.

According to the federal indictment, William Jackson had a longstanding history of non-compliance with the IRS, between 1998 and 2002, by failing to timely file federal income tax returns and failing to pay taxes due. In 2006, the IRS assessed William Jackson approximately $1,390,173 for unpaid income taxes (including penalties and interest) that he owed to the IRS. William Jackson refused to pay his federal tax liabilities, despite notice and demand, which led to federal tax liens being attached to four of his properties, including residential property in Stark City and business property in Granby, Mo.

On Feb. 23, 2018, the court granted the government’s partial summary judgment motion for foreclosure and judicial sale of the four properties. Following a jury trial in July 2018, related to William Jackson’s income tax liability not addressed by that court order, the court issued an order and final judgment that William Jackson had $2,396,800 in total liability for his failure to pay federal income taxes for tax years 1998 to 2002.

Despite the requirement to vacate the properties for sale, William Jackson and other family members remained on the properties for over four years. This caused the IRS to evict William Jackson on Jan. 24, 2024, so that the IRS could effectuate its legal right to sell the properties. William and Stephen Jackson took steps to intimidate an officer and employee of the United States, and impede the IRS’s seizure and sale of the Stark City and Granby properties.

On Jan. 23, 2024, one day prior to the eviction and two days prior to the scheduled auction date for the properties, William Jackson filed a bankruptcy petition, which the bankruptcy court found was filed “in bad faith” for the purpose of defying his tax obligation.

After being evicted, William Jackson forcibly removed locks and chains on the gate of the Stark City property, placed there by the IRS, and replaced them with his own lock and chain. William Jackson returned to the Stark City property on March 10 and March 12, 2024, and destroyed barbed wire fencing next to the gate so he could enter and trespass on the property.

On May 10, 2024, Stephen Jackson sent a threatening text message to the IRS specialist working on this case.

The federal indictment charges William and Stephen Jackson together in one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws.

William Jackson is also charged with two counts of attempting the forcible rescue of property that had been seized by the United States under internal revenue laws, and one count of bankruptcy fraud.

Stephen Jackson is also charged with one count of making a threatening communication to intimidate or impede an officer of the United States.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the IRS Property Appraisal and Liquidation Specialists, and the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Seymour, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for a more than $850,000 fraud scheme in which she used the personal identity information of her fellow inmates in state prison to obtain student loans and tax refunds.

Renee Delann Clouse, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Clouse to pay $857,618 in restitution and to forfeit to the government $857,618. Clouse was taken into custody at the end of the hearing to immediately begin serving her sentence.

On April 23, 2024, Clouse pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Clouse admitted that she harvested the personal information of fellow inmates while she was incarcerated on a state drug conviction, then after being released from prison used that information to fraudulently obtain a total of $338,610 in student loan funds and tax refunds to which she was not entitled.

Clouse fraudulently obtained federal education loans of 18 other individuals totaling $285,435, in addition to more than $500,000 that was sent to the educational institutions, for a fraud scheme that totaled $804,434. Clouse also fraudulently obtained IRS refunds of 10 other individuals totaling $53,174.

According to court documents, Clouse continued her fraud scheme even after she knew she was being investigated by federal agents, and after agreeing to plead guilty.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Kansas City, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On June 13, 2024, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence, one of multiple residential search warrants being executed for evidence related to federal violations committed by various individuals associated with an alliance of three street gangs: the Click Clack Gang, the Park Side Greasies and the South Benton Gang.

As several officers approached Jackson’s residence on foot, an ATF agent pulled her Jeep into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan that was backed into the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”

The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the red and blue flashing lights on her Jeep, which was hood-to-hood with the Kia. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then backed up and drove forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape, nearly striking another ATF agent on foot. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her Jeep, immobilizing it. Jackson must pay restitution for the damage he caused to the government vehicle.

On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Ashland, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for the sexual exploitation of a child.

Scott Alan Barker, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Barker to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration. Barker will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On Aug. 8, 2024, Barker pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.

The investigation began on July 11, 2023, when federal agents received a video recovered by law enforcement in the United Kingdom from the device of a suspect in their own investigation. The video portrayed a man (later identified as Barker) with an approximately 1-year-old child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The child sex abuse video was traced to Barker and, on July 17, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barker’s residence.

Agents observed and photographed the interior of the home, which matched the background of the child sex abuse video. Barker admitted to using online live video chat webpages to chat with adults in a sexually explicit manner.

According to court documents, Barker was video chatting online with an individual he knew as “Emma Long.” In reality, “Emma Long” was an online persona used by an adult male to encourage male children to expose themselves and where possible involve younger male friends or family to sexually assault. Using this persona, the adult male would also encourage adults to abuse children in their care. The adult male manipulated images and videos of a female to appear live to the end user, so they believed they were talking to a 17-year-old female. He also used a video of a 5-year-old being sexually abused, stating it was “Emma Long’s” sister.

Barker admitted the video obtained by law enforcement showed him engaged in a sexual act with the child victim while video chatting with this individual, whom he believed to be a teenage girl.

Additionally, during a forensic analysis of Barker’s cell phone, investigators found several videos that depicted him covertly using the iPhone camera to record young women underneath their skirts or dresses. He is seen recording these videos in Mobile, Alabama, at an awards dinner for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tennis Championships, at Disney World Park in Orlando, Florida, and at public retail stores in Jefferson City, Columbia, Chesterfield, and St. Louis, Mo.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Grain Valley, Mo., police officer pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.

August Price Gildehaus, 28, of Blue Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and one count of producing child pornography.

Gildehaus, a Grain Valley police officer at the time of the offenses, was originally charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

By pleading guilty today, Gildehaus admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual activity with a 15-year-old female victim. Gildehaus and the victim met on an online social media platform. Gildehaus met with the victim on five separate occasions between Aug. 5, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, to engage in illicit sexual activity at different locations, including a middle school parking lot.

Gildehaus admitted that the child victim took photographs of herself when she was home, and he took photographs of himself that he sent to her. Gildehaus also admitted that he recorded videos of their sexual encounters.

Under federal statutes, Gildehaus is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Brackett. It was investigated by the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national who was arrested while transporting five other illegal immigrants through Missouri has been charged in a federal criminal complaint for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

Lisandro Garcia Ramirez, 22, was charged in a seven-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Feb. 22. Ramirez will have his initial court appearance today. The federal criminal complaint charges Ramirez with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, five counts of transporting illegal aliens, and one count of illegally entering the United States.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, troopers with the Missouri Highway Patrol stopped the Honda Pilot Ramirez was driving on the night of Friday, Feb. 22, on Interstate 70 in Mayview, Mo., just south of Marshall, Mo. Ramirez and five passengers told the trooper they were illegally in the United States.

Ramirez told federal investigators that he had been transporting people for approximately six months, twice a  month, with three to five people each trip. During the six-month period, Ramirez transported people from Arizona to several locations, including New York, Tennessee, and Chicago. Ramirez stated he was paid approximately $600 per trip with additional payments of up to $3,000.

Each of the five passengers transported by Ramirez told investigators they paid to be smuggled illegally into the United States, where they were picked up by Ramirez.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Borgnino. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Eldon, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for possessing child pornography.

David Arabie, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 20 years in federal prison without parole, the statutory maximum sentence for this offense. The court also sentenced Arabie to 25 years of supervised release following incarceration.

Arabie is a registered sex offender with prior felony convictions for statutory sodomy involving a 6-year-old victim and criminal sexual conduct involving the sexual abuse of three children ages 7 to 12.

On Oct. 26, 2023, Arabie pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. The court found him in breach of his plea agreement at today’s hearing, however, after Arabie filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and recanted his previous statements made under oath during the change of plea hearing, claiming to be innocent of the charged conduct. On Dec. 20, 2024, the court denied Arabie’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

Arabie admitted that, while visiting his in-laws, he used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network on his computer to share images of child sexual abuse material with an undercover law enforcement officer. Arabie shared a video of the sexual abuse of a child victim approximately 3 to 6 years old.

Arabie also admitted that he possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material on his computer.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."