Western District of Missouri
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jefferson City Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine to distribute.
Clint Alexander Doll, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 28, 2022, Doll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Jefferson City police officers executed a search warrant at Doll’s residence on June 3, 2021. Doll was found in a bedroom on the lower level of his residence, where he packaged methamphetamine for distribution. In that room, officers seized a bag that contained 534.34 grams of methamphetamine, approximately $39,536 in cash that was stashed inside a camera-style bag, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, 25 shotgun shells, four cell phones, and drug paraphernalia.
Text messages retrieved from the cell phones showed that Doll coordinated the distribution of methamphetamine among several individuals. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Doll must forfeit to the government the $39,536 seized by law enforcement officers, which he admitted was proceeds from the distribution of methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Richenberger. It was investigated by the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Heroin Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Aurora, Colorado, man was sentenced in federal court today for heroin trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm while traveling through Kansas City, Mo., on a bus bound for Virginia.
Izeall T. Collins, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 19 years in federal prison without parole.
Collins was found guilty at trial on June 15, 2022, of one count of possessing a kilogram or more of heroin with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to evidence introduced during the trial, law enforcement officers contacted Collins at a Kansas City, Mo., bus station on March 4, 2019, during a layover while Collins was traveling from Denver, Colo., to Norfolk, Va. Collins had been acting suspiciously, and admitted to officers that he had some marijuana in his possession. Officers searched Collins and found a large, hard, brick-shaped object in Collins’s pants.
Officers found 1.05 kilograms of heroin, which was packaged in a rectangular bag wrapped in silver duct tape, concealed in the waistband of his underwear. Officers also found a round of 9mm ammunition in his pocket.
Officers retrieved Collins’s backpack and soft-sided cooler from the bus and obtained a search warrant for them. Investigators later found a loaded Keltec 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the soft-sided cooler.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bradshaw. It was investigated by the MOWIN (Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics) Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $7.7 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2022Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore announced today that the Western District of Missouri collected $7,691,991 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $5,422,014 was collected in criminal actions and $2,269,977 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Missouri worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $5,580,483 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $45,732 was collected in criminal actions and $5,534,751 was collected in civil actions.
In total, the Western District of Missouri and partner agencies collected a combined total of $13,272,474 in criminal and civil actions and forfeitures in fiscal year 2022.
“The attorneys and support staff in our district’s Monetary Penalties Unit worked diligently to collect millions of dollars in restitution for victims of crime, and to seize the assets of those who sought to profit from their illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “In our Civil Division, attorneys and staff successfully recovered considerable funds owed to the government as a result of numerous civil judgments.
“Our collections and asset recovery programs, in both the civil and criminal divisions, hold defendants financially accountable for their conduct,” Moore added. “We are committed to ensure that these debts, both to the government and to the victims of crime, are paid in full.”
For example, the Monetary Penalties Unit recovered over $550,000 in criminal penalties from Randall Halley, a Nixa physician who pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to Medicare to obtain insurance coverage for a fentanyl prescription and one count of conspiracy to use his DEA registration number for his employees to issue controlled substances to patients in his absence. Halley took bribes from a drug manufacturer in exchange for prescribing its fentanyl drug to his patients so often that he ranked highest in the state in net sales of the product. Numerous patients received dangerous fentanyl medication they did not need, nor did they qualify for under Medicare, and Medicare was defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Monetary Penalties Unit also collected over $880,000 in a civil forfeiture action as part of a central Missouri case involving real and personal property that represented criminal proceeds from drug trafficking.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Western District of Missouri, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $3,233,871 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2022. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Mother, Associate of Federal Fugitive Charged with Aiding Escape from Cass County JailRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The mother and an associate of former fugitive Trevor Sparks of Kansas City, Mo., who was apprehended today, have been charged in federal court with assisting in his escape from the Cass County Jail earlier this month.
Dawn Branstietter, 54, of Blue Springs, Mo., the mother of Sparks, and Nicholas Parris, 38, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged with aiding or assisting an escape from confinement in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.
Sergio Perez Martinez, 43, of Panorama City, Calif., escaped from the jail with Sparks and remains a fugitive.
According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s federal criminal complaint, Sparks made several telephone calls to his mother from the jail in which they discussed his upcoming escape attempt. He told her to make sure there was gas in the car because “You are probably going to pick me up real soon. Real, real, real soon.” Sparks told her to “just be ready.”
Sparks made several calls to Branstietter but she was not answering the phone, so he contacted Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, of Kansas City, Mo. Sparks asked Williams to get in touch with his mother, the affidavit says, but then recruited Williams to pick him up after the escape due to Branstietter not answering her phone for several days. Williams allegedly picked up Sparks at a local Casey’s store on Dec. 5, 2022, after he and Perez-Martinez escaped from the jail.
Williams was charged in a separate criminal complaint on Dec. 7, 2022, with aiding or assisting in the escape.
On Dec. 9, 2022, Branstietter was interviewed at her residence. Branstietter indicated she would not give up her son and would go to prison so he could be free. Branstietter’s husband was also at the residence and was not cooperative with law enforcement. No other individuals were found at the residence.
Investigators searched Branstietter’s Facebook account and found messages between her and Parris, who was the ex-boyfriend of Sparks’s sister. They discussed going to Texas, where Sparks’s sister lives. While there was minimal contact between Branstietter and Parris prior to the escape of Sparks and Perez Martinez, the affidavit says, within days of the escape, communication between these two accounts grew exponentially in frequency. The messages were cryptic, vague, or directed to voice or video communication.
At approximately 10:16 a.m. today, Sparks was seen leaving the back yard of a Blue Springs residence that Branstietter had been visiting frequently. Sparks got into a vehicle with Branstietter and drove to Parris’s residence, where Sparks, Branstietter, and Parris were arrested by Kansas City police officers.
Sparks was convicted on Nov. 7, 2022, by a federal trial jury, of leading a criminal conspiracy linked to two murders and multiple violent assaults, and which distributed at least a kilogram of methamphetamine every day for nearly a year in the Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph, and St. Louis, Mo., areas, as well as illegally possessing firearms. He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of participating in a money-laundering conspiracy, one count of possessing firearms in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sparks was awaiting sentencing when he escaped.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades and Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Kansas City Criminal Enterprise Task Force.
KC Man Charged with Illegal Firearm, Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who fired at a gas station clerk was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm and crack cocaine to distribute.
Reginald Lucas, 59, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.
Today’s complaint charges Lucas with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Lucas entered agas station near Prospect Avenue and East 35th Street at about 5:15 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2012. Lucas pointed a handgun at the store clerk and threatened him, then moved to the doorway and fired a shot in the direction of the clerk (who was not injured). Lucas fled from the store, got into a red Nissan Altima, and drove away.
Kansas City police officers who were called to the store found a bullet hole in the ceiling above where the clerk had been standing, and recovered a 9mm shell housing on the ground near the door. Gas station surveillance video provided images of Lucas firing the handgun and fleeing in the Altima.
Police officers were returning to the gas station at about 6:11 a.m. the same day when they saw the Altima, being driven by an unidentified woman with Lucas a passenger. Lucas got out of the vehicle and, when he saw the police officers approach, ran away on foot carrying a gray bag. Officers chased Lucas and took him into custody. Officers found a clear baggie of crack cocaine that contained 58 individually wrapped baggies that weighed a total of 20.95 grams and a smaller baggie that contained a total of 2.85 grams of crack cocaine in Lucas’s jacket pocket, and another 4.98 grams of crack cocaine in his pants pocket.
Officers asked Lucas if he had any identification, and he nodded towards the gray bag, which was hanging on a fence. Officers opened the bag and found a loaded CANIK Century Arms 9mm semi-automatic, individually wrapped baggies that contained a total of 92.81 grams of marijuana, and 22 loose prescription pills.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Lucas has prior convictions for murder with a deadly weapon and robbery.
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, 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.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking in SpringfieldRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram-quantities of heroin in the Springfield, Mo., area.
Alphonso L. Battle, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin from Sept. 1, 2012, to April 3, 2017.
Battle admitted that he traveled from St. Louis to Springfield on April 6, 2016, to deliver heroin to co-defendant Roosevelt Simpson, 65, of Springfield. Law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance at Simpson’s residence at about 10 p.m. when Battle arrived and backed into Simpson’s driveway. Battle walked to the front door of Simpson’s residence, then returned to his vehicle and retrieved an item from the trunk. As federal agents approached to arrest him, Battle fled on foot through the back yard of Simpson’s neighbor.
Battle was found a few hours later near the intersection of Kearney Street and Golden Avenue in Springfield, where he was arrested. Simpson’s neighbor called the Springfield Police Department the next day to report that he found a canister with a false bottom in his back yard. A Springfield Police Department detective retrieved the canister, which contained approximately 63 grams of heroin and 72 capsules of Dormin (a common cutting agent).
Simpson was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Battle is the eighth and final defendant in this case to plead guilty. Seven co-defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
Under federal statutes, Battle is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 40 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 Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Owner of Rockstar Burgers Pleads Guilty to Making Restaurant Available to Drug Traffickers in $1.7 Million ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The owner of the Rockstar Burgers restaurant in Kansas City, Mo., has pleaded guilty in federal court to allowing his former restaurant building to be used in a drug trafficking conspiracy that is alleged to have distributed more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 10 kilograms of heroin, valued at more than $1.7 million.
Brian Douglas Smith, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, Dec. 21, to maintaining a drug-involved premises.
By pleading guilty, Smith admitted that he made the building in the city’s West Bottoms, which housed Rock Star Burgers, his part-time residence, a loft, and associated spaces, available to a drug-trafficking organization. Smith knew the drug-trafficking organization used the building for storing and distributing methamphetamine, collecting for methamphetamine sales, and other methamphetamine distribution activities, including the possession, storage, and use of firearms.
Smith’s role, according to the plea agreement, was only in maintaining the building premises for the drug-trafficking organization’s use.
Smith is among 17 defendants in this case who have pleaded guilty or have guilty pleas scheduled. Two of those co-defendants have been sentenced and the rest await sentencing. One co-defendant is scheduled to go to trial on June 5, 2023.
Matthew John Fabulae, 33, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on March 14, 2022, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Fabulae to forfeit to the government $44,000 based on his distribution of at least five kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Fabulae pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies; he also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Amy Leann Nieman, 51, of Moorseville, Mo., was sentenced on Feb. 25, 2022, to nine years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies and to possessing firearms during a drug-trafficking crime.
Under federal statutes, Smith is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Under the terms of his plea agreement, the government and Smith will recommend to the court that he pay a $15,000 fine in lieu of a money judgment or other financial assessments or forfeitures. 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 Bruce Rhoades, Robert Smith, Maureen Brackett, and Byron Black. It was investigated by the Springfield and Kansas City, Mo., Police Departments, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff's Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Jefferson City Business Owner Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Failure to Pay More Than $500,000 in Payroll TaxesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., business owner has been sentenced in federal court for tax evasion and for failing to pay over more than $500,000 in payroll taxes.
Gina Marie Volmert, 58, of Jefferson City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Wednesday, Dec. 21, to one year and one day in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Volmert to pay $513,911 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
On Dec. 21, 2021, Volmert pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of failing to file a required federal form for her employees’ retirement plan. Volmert was the majority owner, president, and manager of GVA and Associates, LLC, in Jefferson City. GVA provided medical billing and coding services for the electronic submission of medical claims.
GVA withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ paychecks, but Volmert failed to pay all employment taxes that were due, and instead, used those funds to pay her mortgage, pay for her vehicles, and to fund her other living expenses. She also failed to pay all premiums for employee health insurance plans (which led to their cancellation) and failed to fund employee retirement plans.
GVA began to accrue unpaid employment tax liability in 2009, according to court documents. In January 2011, the total balance on the employment tax was over $800,000, including interest. Taxes for June 2008 through December 2009 had not been paid, and all of the periods in 2009 had balances due.
In 2011, Volmert and Kathy Moore (co-owner of GVA) were assessed trust fund recovery penalties, and in September 2011 entered into an installment agreement with the IRS that required GVA to pay $19,000 per month toward the balance due on employment taxes. In November 2011, GVA accrued additional tax liabilities and defaulted on the installment agreement.
On April 13, 2012, a tax levy was filed against Volmert's wages with MoreSource, Inc. (the company that processed GVA’s payroll) in an effort to collect employment taxes. Volmert then caused her wages to be dramatically lowered in an apparent attempt to avoid the levy and lower her tax liability. Volmert's income dropped in October 2012, from $14,000 per month to $1,400 per month. To make up the shortfall in income, she fraudulently submitted $6,300 in reimbursable expenses every two weeks, even though she did not incur such expenses. This action continued through 2014; however, GVA never adjusted Volmert's payroll check amounts.
Volmert admitted that she engaged in tax evasion by shifting her income to reimbursable expenses, which caused her income to be falsely reported on her W-2's for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
In 2006, GVA established an employee benefit plan known as GO Partners 401(K) plan, and Volmert served as the trustee and administrator of the plan (later renamed GVA and Associates LLC Profit Sharing Plan and Trust). As the plan’s fiduciary, Volmert was required to file an annual financial report (Form 5500) with the U.S. Department of Labor. Volmert failed to file the report since the plan's inception, even though she was notified of her duty to file the report.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Three Defendants Sentenced for Scheme to Transport Stolen Catalytic Converters Across State LinesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Three Rogersville, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a scheme to transport tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines as part of a multi-million-dollar business.
“These three defendants were the ringleaders of a scheme that impacted thousands of area residents,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “We worked closely with a number of our law enforcement partners to shut down their multi-million-dollar operation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Evan Marshall, 25, of Rogersville, Cody Ryder, 31, of Springfield, and Camren Joseph Davis, 25, of Rogersville, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Monday, Dec. 19.
Marshall was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also imposed a $750,000 money judgment against Marshall to be forfeited to the government, ordered Marshall to pay $19,133 in restitution to victims of the conspiracy who law enforcement were able to identify, and forfeiture to the government of the following items that were seized by law enforcement: 33 rifles, 20 scopes, six shotguns, 26 handguns, a Glock sub conversion kit, eight ammunition magazines, a 2011 Ram 3500 one-ton pickup, a 2004 Dodge Ram, a flatbed trailer, two 42-foot gooseneck flatbed trailers, a 16-foot livestock trailer, a 2021 Load N Go utility trailer, a 2007 car hauler trailer, a Volkswagen dune buggy, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a 2012 Keystone 5th wheel camper, a Caterpillar skid steer, a 2019 Honda Talon SXS 1000 side by side, a 2016 Polaris RZR side by side, a Polaris Ranger 4x4, and 191 catalytic converters.
Ryder was sentenced to two years and five months in federal prison without parole. Davis was sentenced to five years of probation. The court imposed money judgments against Ryder and Davis to forfeit to the government $125,000 each.
“We are pleased to be a part of, and to see the successful ending, to this long-term investigation,” said Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams. “It is good to see the main participants in this crime being held accountable, and the potential for restitution for victims in our community.”
“Our community is painfully aware that catalytic converter thefts are not victimless crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Kansas City Area of Responsibility Josh Armstrong. “While many may consider catalytic converter thefts to be victimless, all too often criminals involved in these types of thefts sometimes funnel the profits gained to organized criminal networks to fund additional, more dangerous crimes.”
On June 16, 2022, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen property across state lines. Ryder pleaded guilty on June 13, 2022, and Davis pleaded guilty on April 21, 2022, to their roles in a conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.
Co-defendants Enx Khoshaba, 30, Leslie Ice, 38, and Eric Kaltenbach, 38, all of Springfield, and Danielle Ice, 34, of Columbia (formerly of Springfield), have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines and await sentencing.
Marshall admitted that he transported stolen catalytic converters, valued at $1 million or more, across state lines from December 2019 to October 2021. Marshall also admitted that he bought tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters directly from his co-defendants and from other thieves, and sold the stolen catalytic converters for a total of approximately $1 million.
Marshall began selling the catalytic converters to a company in Mountain Home, Arkansas, in the fall of 2019. At that time, Marshall would purchase junk vehicles and sell the vehicles’ parts, including the catalytic converters. In the late fall of 2019, the owners of the Mountain Home company asked Marshall if he would begin purchasing catalytic converters in southwest Missouri and sell to them exclusively. Marshall agreed to do so; in return, they regularly provided Marshall with cash so that Marshall had the funds to purchase a higher volume of catalytic converters. They also provided Marshall with a list of valuable catalytic converters. By December 2019, Marshall had mostly ceased buying junk vehicles and scrapping them out for parts, and instead began purchasing already-detached catalytic converters from scrap yards and individual sellers.
By January 2020, the owners of the Mountain Home company were wiring Marshall hundreds of thousands of dollars on a monthly basis so that Marshall could purchase a higher volume of detached catalytic converters.
By December 2019, Marshall had also enlisted Davis to work for him and another company, which Marshall also established in December 2019. Davis’s job was to purchase catalytic converters using cash that Marshall provided him. During that time period, Marshall provided Davis with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to purchase catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf. As part of the arrangement, Davis exclusively sold the catalytic converters he purchased to Marshall. On at least one occasion, Marshall provided Davis with $40,000 in cash for the purchase of catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf.
Davis admitted that he bought at least 1,500 stolen catalytic converters from various thieves and sold them to Marshall for a total of approximately $250,000.
In February 2021, Marshall enlisted Ryder to work for him and his company. As with Davis, Ryder’s job was to purchase catalytic converters using cash that Marshall provided him. From February 2021 through October 2021, Marshall provided Ryder with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to purchase catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf. As part of the arrangement, Ryder exclusively sold the catalytic converters he purchased to Marshall. On at least one occasion, Marshall provided Ryder with $10,000 in cash for the purchase of catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf.
Ryder admitted that he bought at least 1,500 stolen catalytic converters from thieves and sold them to Marshall for an aggregate amount of approximately $250,000.
Many of the catalytic converters that Davis and Ryder purchased with the cash Marshall provided them were stolen, and Marshall knew at the time that many of them were stolen. Marshall paid Davis and Ryder an agreed-upon percentage amount over their purchase price for the catalytic converters, less the amount of cash Marshall had fronted them.
From December 2019 through October 2021, in addition to utilizing Davis and Ryder as buyers of stolen catalytic converters, Marshall also purchased stolen catalytic converters directly from thieves. In July 2020, a Springfield, Mo., police detective contacted Marshall regarding the purchase of catalytic converters from individuals known to be thieves. Despite being put on notice that he was purchasing stolen catalytic converters, Marshall continued to purchase stolen catalytic converters, including from at least one of the individuals identified by the detective.
Marshall admitted that he knowingly purchased stolen catalytic converters from co-defendants Davis, Ryder, Ice, Kaltenbach, Khoshaba, and at least six other thieves. Marshall transported and sold almost all of the catalytic converters, including the stolen catalytic converters, to the owners of the Mountain Home business.
Marshall, Davis, Ryder and others loaded the catalytic converters, including the stolen catalytic converters, into bins that were placed on trailers at Marshall’s residence. They hauled the trailers, which each contained between 800 and 1,200 catalytic converters, many of which were stolen, from Rogersville to Mountain Home. Marshall transported catalytic converters from Rogersville to Mountain Home approximately every two weeks from December 2019 through October 2021.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon T. Kempf and Anthony Brown. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Webster County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
This effort 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 National Guard Soldier Sentenced to 16 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chanute, Kansas, man serving with the Army National Guard was sentenced in federal court today for sexually exploiting an 11-year-old southwest Missouri victim to produce child pornography.
Christian Sinclair, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Sinclair to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On March 2, 2022, Sinclair pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child. Sinclair admitted that he used a minor to produce child pornography from Aug. 1, 2020, through June 15, 2021.
According to Sinclair’s plea agreement, a captain in the Kansas National Guard contacted the Sierra Vista, Arizona, police department on June 15, 2021, while his unit was deployed to Arizona. The captain reported that Sinclair, one of the soldiers in his command, was sexting an 11-year-old child in Missouri. Sinclair’s fiancée had reported to the captain earlier the same day that she had screenshots between herself and Sinclair in which Sinclair admitted to “cheating” on her with an 11-year-old child.
The child victim told investigators that she had sent Sinclair multiple pornographic videos and images of herself via Snapchat at Sinclair’s request. Sinclair admitted that he also sent pornographic images of himself to the child victim via Snapchat.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Lamar, Mo., Police Department, the Sierra Vista, Arizona, Police Department, and the Chanute, Kan., 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."
Jury Convicts Two KC Men of Kidnapping, MurderRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Mexican nationals have been convicted in federal court of kidnapping and murder.
Jonathan M. Bravo-Lopez (also known as “Jonathan Vravo,” and “Shadow”), 27, and Juan D. Osorio (also known as “Spexx”), 28, both of whom are citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo., were found guilty on Friday, Dec. 16, of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death. Osorio was also found guilty of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Bravo-Lopez was also found guilty of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported in 2016.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Bravo-Lopez and Osorio conspired to kidnap Cristian Escutia in an attempt to rob him of money. They transported Escutia across state lines from Missouri to Kansas before fatally shooting him on April 3, 2017.
Bravo-Lopez and Osorio arranged to purchase $300 of marijuana from Escutia as a ruse to lure him into their kidnapping plan. On April 3, 2017, they met Escutia outside his residence, shot him in the arm, and forced him into their vehicle, a Chrysler Pacifica, at gunpoint. The kidnapping was captured by the video surveillance system outside a nearby residence. When they drove to the 200 block of Donovan Road in Kansas City, Kan., they forced Escutia out of the vehicle. Escutia was shot three times in the head and left to die on the side of the road.
Osorio, who is in the United States unlawfully, was in possession of an Action Arms Uzi .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol when he was arrested on April 7, 2017.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about three hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Dec. 5, 2022.
Under federal statutes, Bravo-Lopez and Osorio each are subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Edwards and Matthew A. Moeder. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.
Chillicothe Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Chillicothe, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing the firearms he stole from a local business.
Marcus R. Brown, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Monday, Dec. 19, to nine years and four months in federal prison without parole.
On March 11, 2022, Brown pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown admitted that he broke into Medicine Creek Trading Company, a firearm dealer in Chillicothe, and stole six firearms on April 22, 2020. Brown stole a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Beretta 9mm pistol, a Ruger .45-caliber pistol, and a Block .40-caliber pistol.
Brown was arrested in an unrelated case on April 29, 2020. Investigators found evidence that linked Brown to the business burglary.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brown has prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and burglary. He was on probation at the time of this federal offense.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Chillicothe, 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.
KC Man Sentenced for Stealing, Illegally Possessing Firearm Used in KillingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing the firearm he stole from his victim and used to kill him.
Larry D. Bradley, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On May 11, 2022, Bradley was found guilty at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm, stealing a firearm, possessing a stolen firearm, and receiving a firearm while under indictment for a felony. Bradley has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 9, 2021.
On March 20, 2020, officers with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department were dispatched to a residence on a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located Thomas Willett, who was suffering from a fatal gunshot wound, on the floor of the residence. Officers learned that in the heat of an argument, Bradley had shot Willett with a Glock .40-caliber handgun then fled from the residence with the firearm. With the assistance of a police dog, they were able to find Bradley hiding inside a trailer. Bradley no longer had the firearm, so officers asked him where the firearm was located. Bradley led the officers to a tire where he had hidden the firearm. Bradley later admitted that he had stolen the firearm from Willett a couple of days before the shooting.
According to testimony during Bradley’s trial, a conflict arose between Bradley and Willet because he was unwilling to support Bradley’s heroin habit. Bradley had pulled a knife on Willet a few days earlier, and stated several times that he wanted to hurt Willett.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm. Bradley has prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery. It is also illegal for anyone who is under indictment for a felony to receive a firearm. At the time he stole the firearm, he was under indictment for the felony possession of methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Former Joplin Youth Minister Sentenced for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former youth minister in Joplin, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for exchanging pornographic images and videos with a child victim.
Nicholas Lane Stephens, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to six years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Stephens to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On March 15, 2022, Stephens pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. Stephens was formerly the youth minister at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Joplin.
The investigation began when a Children’s Division investigator received a hotline call reporting that Stephens, a volunteer at the church, was involved in inappropriate relationships with minor females at the church, including the 17-year-old victim identified in court documents as “Jane Doe.”
Jane Doe told investigators she sent nude images to Stephens via Snapchat in December 2019. Stephens sent Jane Doe several pornographic images of himself, as well as pornographic FaceTime videos. Examiners discovered a dozen images and one video of child pornography of Jane Doe on Stephens’s cell phone. There were also numerous messages between Jane Doe and Stephens.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, 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 Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Heroin Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Derrick L. Hall, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On June 29, 2022, Hall pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin from May 15 to Sept. 18, 2019, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Hall sold 14 grams of heroin to a confidential informant on two separate occasions and sold an additional 23 grams of heroin and a firearm to a confidential informant on a third occasion. Hall drove to St. Louis on Aug. 29, 2019, where he obtained approximately 50 grams of heroin that was seized from him in a traffic stop. He returned to St. Louis on Sept. 18, 2019, and encountered law enforcement officers when he returned home.
On Sept. 18, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hall’s residence. Officers found a plastic bag that contained approximately 17.4 grams of heroin on top of the bedroom dresser, a plastic bag that contained approximately 48.2 grams of heroin inside a boot that was lying in between the bed and the nightstand, a plastic container that contained a plastic bag with approximately 2.8 grams of heroin on top of the nightstand, and a plastic bag that contained approximately a half gram of heroin in the trash can. Officers found a total of approximately 70 grams of heroin in Hall’s residence, a Sig Sauer firearm with ammunition, and $4,532 in cash inside a purse on the floor of the bedroom closet.
Officers also searched Hall’s car, which was parked in the driveway, and found a plastic bag that contained a white substance (consistent with a cutting agent for heroin) in the trunk of the vehicle. It was found near a bottle of Dormin, which is a cutting agent for heroin, and small plastic baggies, consistent with that used to package user amounts of heroin. Officers also found ammunition in the trunk of Hall’s car.
According to court documents, Hall’s criminal history began in 1987, when he was 17 years old and committed the crime of possession of cocaine. That same year, he attempted to rob someone and when the person said they had nothing for him to take, shot the person in the leg. In 1988 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for assault and five years for possession of cocaine. In April 2011, Hall sold cocaine to an undercover police officer in St. Louis County, Mo., and was convicted of distributing a controlled substance. Hall also has seven convictions for stealing and was on parole at the time he committed the federal violations in this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josephine L. Stockard. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Ava Man Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ava, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing child pornography after photos of the child victim’s sexual assault were discovered in his former residence while it was being torn down.
Harold Lloyd Blair, Jr., 66, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Dec. 6, 2022, with one count of using a minor to produce child pornography.
The federal indictment alleges that Blair used a minor to produce child pornography from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2013.
The investigation began on Dec. 2, 2022, when workers employed by Douglas County, Mo., discovered a filing cabinet that contained images of child pornography in a house they were tearing down. Workers using heavy equipment tore into a wall and found the filing cabinet, then contacted the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department. Investigators learned that Blair had sold the house to the county.
State charges were originally filed against Blair in Douglas County but will be dismissed by the Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney in lieu of the federal indictment.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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 Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, with assistance from the Douglas County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
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."
Jury Convicts KC Man of Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been convicted by a trial jury of the armed robbery of a Family Dollar store with the assistance of the store’s assistant manager.
Delshawn Lemons, 27, was found guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 7, of one count of robbery and one count of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Co-defendants Veronika Rodriguez, 26, and Bobby J. Booker, Jr., 25, both of Kansas City, Mo., have pleaded guilty to their roles in the robbery.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Lemons stole $3,102 at gunpoint from the Family Dollar store at 4401 E. 50th Terrace in Kansas City, Mo., on June 8, 2020.
Rodriguez, who was an assistant manager at the store, was counting the money drawer to close up for the night when Lemons and Booker, who were both armed with handguns and wearing masks, walked into the store. They held two store employees at gunpoint while Rodriguez put all the money in a bag. Lemons and Booker then left the store.
Rodriguez told investigators that Lemons, who knew she was closing the night of the robbery, had approached her about robbing the store and promised her a share of the robbery proceeds.
Rodriguez also told investigators that Lemons had approached her about setting up other men for him to rob.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for three and a half hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey, ending a trial that began Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Under federal statutes, Lemons is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of seven 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 Joseph M. Marquez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
West Plains Man Convicted of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A West Plains, Mo., man was convicted by a trial jury today of the sexual exploitation of a 13-month-old child and of distributing child pornography.
Kenneth Howard Worthy, 46, was found guilty of one count of the sexual exploitation of a child by producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography.
Worthy’s criminal activities came to light during an investigation of another individual involved with child pornography. That individual informed investigators that Worthy had transmitted images of himself engaged in sexual acts with a child.
On March 4, 2021, law enforcement officers contacted Worthy at his residence. Worthy admitted that he had used a child victim under the age of two, identified in court documents as “John Doe,” to produce child pornography. Worthy also told investigators he sent pornographic images of the child victim to another person.
Officers seized Worthy’s cell phone. Investigators found 10 images of child pornography that depicted John Doe and Worthy.
Under federal statutes, Worthy is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 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.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for 45 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, Dec. 5.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Beaver, James J. Kelleher and Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the West Plains, 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 Felon Indicted for Illegal Firearm, Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine to distribute.
Timothy S. Brandkamp, 62, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Brandkamp is charged as an armed career offender due to his prior convictions for a violent felony and three serious drug offenses. He is therefore subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole if convicted.
Today’s indictment charges Brandkamp with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Brandkamp allegedly was in possession of a Taurus 9mm pistol and approximately 12 rounds of ammunition on Oct. 14 and 20, 2022. The indictment also charges Brandkamp with one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute on those dates.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brandkamp has a federal felony conviction for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, for which he was on supervised release at the time of the offense after serving 13 years in federal prison. Brandkamp also has two prior felony convictions for selling methamphetamine, as well as prior felony convictions for possessing methamphetamine, selling an imitation controlled substance, and assault.
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 Anthony M. Brown. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services 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.
KC Felon Indicted for Shooting at Officer, Illegal Firearms, Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who fired an assault rifle at law enforcement officers before leading officers on high-speed pursuits in three different vehicles was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing firearms and methamphetamine.
Brenton Ross, 32, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.
Today’s indictment charges Ross with one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute, one count of discharging a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Ross was arrested on Oct. 15, 2022, after being pursued in several different vehicles and shooting at law enforcement officers.
Ross allegedly was driving a white 2021 Dodge Challenger with California license plates when a Barton County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop him for leaving the scene of an accident that occurred in Vernon County, Mo. Ross fled at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour before stopping his vehicle on Interstate 49 in Vernon County. Ross allegedly fired multiple shots at the sheriff’s deputy with a Great Lakes Firearm & Ammunition .223-caliber rifle, hitting the deputy’s vehicle several times. Ross then fled on foot.
Law enforcement officers in Vernon County later attempted again to stop Ross, who was driving a stolen Chevrolet Suburban. Officers pursued Ross at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in a construction zone until he drove off-road and evaded capture.
Ross led officers on another high-speed chase later the same day, while driving a stolen flatbed pickup truck. Ross allegedly drove the truck into law enforcement vehicles. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s air unit followed Ross as he fled on foot until he was apprehended by law enforcement.
Officers searched the Challenger and found a stolen Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol, multiple spent .223-caliber rifle shells, and methamphetamine. Officers found the assault rifle near another vehicle used by Ross during the pursuit.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Ross has two prior felony convictions for stealing a motor vehicle and two prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, as well as prior felony convictions for possessing an illegal weapon, possessing a controlled substance, property damage, statutory rape, assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ross was on supervision with the Missouri Board of Probation & Parole at the time of this incident.
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 Anthony M. Brown. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Barton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Cedar County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Vernon County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
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.
California Man Indicted for Transporting 165 Pounds of MethRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Cucamonga, California, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after a state trooper found 165 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
Rafael Solis, 30, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Solis on Nov. 30, 2022, which charged him with the same offense.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper stopped Solis, who was driving a Nissan Armanda rental vehicle on Interstate 44 in Greene County, Mo., on Nov. 29, 2022. The trooper found three large moving boxes in the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle that contained approximately 165 pounds of methamphetamine. A small amount of personal use cocaine and marijuana were also found in the vehicle.
Solis told investigators he had picked up the rental vehicle in California and was driving to Chicago, Illinois.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Lenexa Man, Woman Indicted for $2.9 Million Medicare Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lenexa, Kansas, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $2.9 million conspiracy to defraud Medicare.
Timothy A. Chin, 64, and Lauren M. Sword, 36, were charged in a 23-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
Chin and Sword jointly owned and operated Senior Community Care LLC a/k/a Momentum Med Services, LLC. Sword, a chiropractor and owner of Adjust to Health, was enrolled as a Medicare provider.
The federal indictment alleges that Chin and Sword participated in a conspiracy to pay bribes and receive kickbacks for the referral of Medicare beneficiary information that was used to submit $2,927,706 in claims to Medicare from February 2019 through September 2019. Medicare actually paid out approximately $861,399 to two laboratories that submitted those claims.
In addition to the conspiracy, Chin and Sword are charged with 22 counts of wire fraud.
Through Senior Community Care, the indictment says, Chin and Sword marketed genetic tests to Medicare beneficiaries. They also hired or contracted with marketers, sales representatives, and patient recruiters to target Medicare beneficiaries at senior residential communities and other locations, and to induce those Medicare beneficiaries to agree to genetic testing regardless of medical necessity.
Genetic testing is used to indicate whether there is a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer, or to assess how the body’s genetic makeup would affect its response to certain medications. To conduct genetic testing, a laboratory needed to obtain a DNA specimen from the patient. Specimens were typically obtained from the patient’s saliva by using a cheek swab to collect cells.
Marketers collected Medicare personal identifying information from Medicare beneficiaries, along with the swabs. Health care providers, such as doctors, then signed orders for genetic tests that were, in turn, used to bill Medicare for those tests.
Operating through Senior Community Care, the indictment says, Chin and Sword were marketers and patient recruiters for MBM Solutions, a Florida company involved in marketing genetic tests to Medicare beneficiaries. Chin and Sword allegedly received kickbacks and bribes from MBM in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries for genetic tests and doctors’ orders for those tests.
MBM Solutions purportedly received kickbacks and bribes from Momentum Sales & Marketing, a company operating out of New Jersey and Florida that marketed genetic tests to Medicare beneficiaries.
Senior Community Care was one of other marketing sub-groups that operated in a payment structure that included MBM and Momentum Sales & Marketing, whose owners are being prosecuted in other districts. Because Chin and Sword were involved in this multi-level scheme to defraud Medicare, the indictment says, they were paid kickbacks and bribes by MBM. Chin and Sword allegedly paid kickbacks and bribes to their Senior Community Care marketers in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries for genetic tests.
Chin and Sword caused two laboratories to bill and be paid by Medicare. Those laboratories billed Medicare approximately $2,927,706, and Medicare paid them approximately $861,399 for specimens from 163 Medicare beneficiaries.
Between April 15 and Aug. 30, 2019, MBM paid Chin and Sword approximately $95,348 by making 14 electronic deposits into their account. These payments allegedly were made in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries for genetic testing and, as such, were illegal kickbacks.
Between June 19 and Sept. 4, 2019, Chin and Sword allegedly withdrew a total of $34,458 from their bank account and used those funds to compensate Senior Community Care marketers for genetic testing referrals and, as such, those payments were illegal kickbacks.
The federal indictment also contains a forfeiture count, which would require Chin and Sword to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged wire fraud, including a money judgment in the amount of $95,348.
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 Cindi Woolery. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Three Indicted for Involvement in Violent Crisis in CameroonRead the Press Release
Three defendants were arrested today and made their initial court appearances in connection with an indictment, unsealed today, charging them for their roles in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a conspiracy to kidnap persons and use weapons of mass destruction in a foreign country.
Claude N. Chi, 40, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Francis Chenyi, 49, of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Lah Nestor Langmi, 46, of Buffalo, New York, all of whom are U.S. citizens of Cameroonian origin, are charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on Nov. 18, 2022. The indictment was unsealed and made public today following their arrests and initial court appearances.
The federal indictment alleges that Chi, Chenyi and Langmi have supported and raised funds for separatist fighters in Cameroon since Jan. 1, 2018. As alleged, they each held senior level positions within an organization that supported and directed the militant separatist group known as the Ambazonian Restoration Forces and other separatist fighters in Cameroon’s Northwest Region.
Chi, Chenyi and Langmi allegedly solicited and raised funds for equipment, supplies, weapons and explosive materials to be used in attacks against Cameroonian government personnel, security forces and property, along with other civilians believed to be enabling the government. These funds were raised through online chat applications and payment platforms from individuals located in the United States and abroad. The funds were then transferred from various financial and cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the defendants through intermediaries to the separatist fighters to support attacks in Cameroon.
In addition to more than $350,000 the defendants raised through voluntary donations, the indictment alleges Chi, Chenyi and Langmi conspired with others to kidnap civilians in Cameroon and hold them for ransom. In some instances, U.S. citizens were extorted for ransom payments to secure the release of their kidnapped relatives living in Cameroon. The ransom payments were subsequently transferred to the separatist fighters to fund their operations.
According to the indictment, the defendants authored a document that included a list of expenditures related to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), firearms and ammunition. Other expenditures included funds related to the kidnapping of Cardinal Christian Tumi and of a Cameroonian traditional leader named Sehm Mbinglo II on Nov. 5, 2020.
Chi, Chenyi and Langmi are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources intended to be used to carry out a conspiracy to kill, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country and one count of providing material support or resources intended to be used to carry out a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States. They are additionally charged with one count of receiving money from a ransom demand and one count of participating in a money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison for the material support charges, up to three years in prison for the receiving money from a ransom demand charge and up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy charge.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore for the Western District of Missouri, FBI Assistant Director Robert R. Wells and Special Agent in Charge Charles A. Dayoub of the FBI Kansas City Field Office made the announcement.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can remain anonymous in reporting a tip.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Blackwood for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was the subject of an undercover investigation in the United Kingdom has been sentenced in federal court on child sexual exploitation charges.
Kody Ryan Kelso, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 19 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Kelso to spend 15 years on supervised release following incarceration.
On July 6, 2022, Kelso pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography and to one count of using the internet and a cell phone to coerce and entice a child under the age of 14 to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Both of the offenses to which Kelso pleaded guilty are related to an undercover law enforcement operation in the United Kingdom. Kelso used an online service named My LOL, a teen dating site with chat features, to contact a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but in reality was an undercover law enforcement officer. Kelso asked her to have sexual intercourse with him and repeatedly requested sexually explicit images during online chats from Jan. 7 to Feb. 2, 2021. Kelso also provided his email address and asked her to use Google hangouts to send sexually explicit photos outside the MYLOL platform.
In addition to the information from Europol, investigators received two Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Kelso’s online activity and posting a child pornography video online.
On June 16, 2021, Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Kelso’s apartment and he was arrested. Officers seized 19 electronic devices. Investigators found 26 images and 39 video files of child pornography on Kelso’s computers. According to court documents, Kelso had multiple conversations with other users who had clearly identified themselves as minors and sought to have them produce sexually explicit images and entice them into engaging in sexual conduct. The records from MyLOL reveal that Kelso had contacted 560 additional MyLOL users, all of which were listed as being between the age of 13 and 17 years old. He started each conversation by asking if the child had an “age limit” and would introduce sexual topics.
Kelso’s behavior was not limited to MyLOL. On his devices, law enforcement discovered approximately 7,900 different chat threads with different users, over multiple social media applications, including Discord, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Instagram, Kik, Skype, and Text Now. Kelso sometimes sent child pornography, or pornographic images of himself, to these children and requested nude images.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and 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."
KC Man Sentenced for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute.
Scott D. Walker, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.
On March 1, 2022, Walker pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
On Aug. 7, 2020, Independence, Mo., police officers and U.S. Marshals Service arrested Walker at an Independence residence on a warrant for violating his supervised release. Walker was previously convicted in federal court in the District of Kansas for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and for possessing firearms and ammunition in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, for which he was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole. Walker was released from incarceration on July 19, 2019, and he was serving a five-year sentence of supervised release at the time of his arrest in this case.
Walker was taken into custody without incident and officers searched his backpack, which contained approximately 196 grams of methamphetamine, a Rohm .22 short caliber revolver, and $5,520 in cash.
Walker also admitted that approximately 84 grams of methamphetamine and cash recovered from an earlier incident at another residence belonged to him. Walker admitted to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., 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.
Kansas Man Indicted for Illegal Firearm Following High-Speed Motorcycle Chase in Newton CountyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing a firearm after he led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit on his motorcycle across state lines from Kansas to Newton County, Mo.
Douglas Eugene Alexius, 47, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a federal indictment returned on Wednesday, Nov. 16, by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Alexius was charged as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.
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.
Alexius was arrested on Oct. 9, 2022, after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase. Alexius was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle on U.S. Highway 166 in Cherokee County, Kan., when a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop him for failing to stop at a stop sign. Alexius accelerated his motorcycle and led law enforcement officers in pursuit into Newton County. Alexius lost control of his motorcycle and crashed at the intersection of Greenwood Drive and Birch Drive. He was taken into custody after being tased three times because he refused to follow an officer’s order to lie on the ground and kept reaching into his jacket pocket. Officers searched Alexius and found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol in his jacket pocket.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Alexius has four prior felony convictions for resisting arrest and two prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, as well as prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in relation to a drug offense, receiving stolen property, and unlawful use of a firearm.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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 Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
KC Woman Pleads Guilty to CARES Act Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently receiving a $10,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan, a program that was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Nicole R. Cortez, 41, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Thursday, Nov. 17, to a federal information that charges her with one count of wire fraud.
The purpose of the CARES Act was to provide emergency financial assistance due to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Small Business Administration to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans to eligible small businesses that experienced substantial financial disruption due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By pleading guilty today, Cortez admitted that she provided her personal identification information to a co-conspirator (identified in court documents as C1), who then used that information to submit an online loan application. The loan application fraudulently claimed that Cortez was the owner of a business called “Cortez Shoez Inc,” and provided false information regarding gross revenue and the number of employees. In reality, there is no such business associated with Cortez.
Cortez completed and signed a loan authorization and agreement for the Cortez Shoez loan on Aug. 8, 2020, falsely certifying that all of the information was correct and that loan proceeds would be used “solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster occurring in the month of January 31, 2020, and continuing thereafter.”
The Small Business Administration approved the loan and deposited $10,000 into Cortez’s bank account on Aug. 11, 2020. She spent the loan proceeds on personal expenses, such as car payments, restaurant purchases, and cash withdrawals.
Under federal statutes, Cortez is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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 held on April 20, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
Former Department of Corrections Deputy Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The former deputy director of Jackson County Department of Corrections pleaded guilty in federal court today to tax evasion.
Isaac Johnston, 53, of Leavenworth, Kansas, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to a federal information that charges him with one count of individual income tax evasion.
By pleading guilty today, Johnston admitted that he failed to file personal income tax returns for tax years 2012 through 2020. According to today’s plea agreement, the total personal income tax loss to the IRS for tax years 2012 through 2020 as a result of Johnston’s failure to file a personal income tax form was $ 215,061, based on total taxable income of $1,277,442 from 2012 through 2020.
On May 1, 2018, Johnston filed a Form W-4 with his then-employer, the Jackson County Department of Corrections, in which he claimed to be exempt from federal income tax withholding. Johnston had also filed a Form W-4 on March 12, 2015, with his then-employer, CoreCivic, in which he claimed to be exempt from federal income tax withholding.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Johnston must pay $83,390 (plus interest) in restitution to the IRS, based on total taxable income of $581,479 from 2016 through 2020 (the only years for which restitution may be assessed).
Under federal statutes, Johnston is subject to a sentence of up to five 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 Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Excelsior Estates Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Leading Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Excelsior Estates, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Mark A. Whitworth, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 19 years and seven months in federal prison without parole.
Whitworth was found guilty at trial on June 9, 2022, of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from July 1, 2018, to Aug. 18, 2019, and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
On Aug. 18, 2019, the Missouri State Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at Whitworth’s residence. They found a safe concealed behind a flag in the master bedroom closet that contained 60 $100 bills, totaling $6,000. They also found a cardboard box in a shed that contained approximately 256 grams of methamphetamine. Also in the shed, officers found a 12-gauge shotgun, a .410 shotgun, shotgun shells, and various items that indicated the methamphetamine was being prepared for distribution (including a digital scale and plastic baggies). Officers also found a closed-circuit camera system, which was connected to an external camera, and a police scanner in the shed. According to court documents, a small amount of pre-bagged methamphetamine weighing approximately six grams was recovered from inside a drawer in the shed.
Co-defendant Russell Lee Walker, 57, who shared a residence with Whitworth, was sentenced on July 6, 2022, to four years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Walker testified at trial that he helped Whitworth by selling methamphetamine two or three times a week in lieu of paying rent.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Daly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Three Eastern Jackson County Men Plead Guilty to Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Eastern Jackson County men have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Kenneth James Paulson, 51, of Blue Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, Nov. 16, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 11 to Oct. 14, 2020. Co-defendants Louis Melvin Williamson, 51, and Kurt Thomas Kingsley, 40, both of Independence, Mo., have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Kingsley also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Paulson admitted that he purchased methamphetamine from Kingsley and sold bulk quantities to lower level dealers. Williams and Kingsley have admitted that Williams sold bulk quantities of methamphetamine to other dealers, including Kingsley, who in turn sold to Paulson.
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, through undercover agents and confidential informants, made controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Paulson at his home and at a movie theater parking lot in Grain Valley, Mo. On Oct. 13, 2020, DEA agents stopped Paulson’s car in Blue Springs while he was on his way to another undercover controlled purchase. Agents found 145 grams of 99 percent pure methamphetamine in his car. Agents also searched his residence and found 226 grams of 99 percent pure methamphetamine in his garage. Agents also found a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver in his garage.
On Oct. 14, 2020, Kingsley arrived at Paulson’s residence for an arranged drug sale. DEA agents found a black backpack on the passenger’s seat of Kingsley’s Ford F-150 that contained 46.7 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Under federal statutes, Paulson, Kingsley and Williams each are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gibson, who is a cross-designated prosecutor from the Missouri Attorney General’s office as part of the Safer Streets Initiative to combat violent crime. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery While Wearing Ankle MonitorRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor at the time of the offense pleaded guilty in federal court today to robbing a Bank of America branch in Springfield last summer.
Michael C. Loyd, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of bank robbery.
By pleading guilty today, Loyd admitted he stole $754 from Bank of America at 633 W. Kearney in Springfield on July 20, 2022. Loyd approached a bank teller and handed her a note that stated, “Give Your Money Now. Don’t Say Anything. I Have A Partner Outside.” After the teller handed him the cash in her drawer, Loyd left the bank and drove away in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck.
A few minutes later, investigators received a tip that Loyd may be the bank robber and that he was currently at Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park, where the truck’s owner lived. Law enforcement officers surrounded the residence and began calling out occupants of the residence.
Investigators compared a previous booking photo of Loyd to the surveillance photos from the bank. Investigators also learned that Loyd was on ankle monitoring as part of his state probation. LBS Monitoring confirmed that their tracking data indicated Loyd’s ankle monitor was inside the Bank of America at the time of the robbery.
Loyd surrendered to law enforcement and admitted to robbing the bank. He told investigators that, as he was driving away from the bank, he saw patrol cars with their lights activated driving in the direction of the bank. He became scared and started throwing money out the window of the truck. Loyd didn’t know how much of the money he disposed of, because he didn’t know how much money he had stolen.
Under federal statutes, Loyd is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Fulton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Secretly Recording Teen VictimsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Mo., man who secretly recorded two teenage victims has been sentenced in federal court for attempting to produce child pornography.
Craig Michael Glover, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, Nov. 15, to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On July 19, 2022, Glover pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to produce child pornography. Glover admitted that he secretly placed a hidden camera in the bedroom of a victim, identified in court documents as FV1. Glover also admitted that he placed a hidden camera in a bathroom to capture video of a second victim, identified in court documents as FV2.
According to the plea agreement, FV1 discovered the camera, which was designed to look like a USB phone charger, a few days after Glover had been alone in her home. She was plugging in a Christmas tree on Jan. 2, 2021, when she discovered a brown cord plugged into the wall. She followed the extension cord and found the camera attached with tape to a shelving unit in her room. On the same day, FV1 and her mother took the camera, which had a 32GB micro SD card installed in the device, to the Jefferson City Police Department. An FBI special agent reviewed the video files stored on the SD card, which revealed multiple videos of FV1 completely nude or partially nude in her bedroom. Another recording stored on the SD card showed Glover placing the camera.
A Jefferson City police detective interviewed Glover, who admitted this was the second time he had installed a camera in FV1’s bedroom. Glover admitted that he also had installed a hidden camera when FV1 was a minor.
Investigators examined Glover’s iPhone and found multiple images of FV1 at various stages of undress. The computer forensic examiner also found images of another victim. The images, which were still shots taken from video from a hidden camera, depicted FV2 in various stages of undress in the bathroom. FV2 told investigators the images were recorded at her 17th birthday party, which Glover had attended.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
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."
Gladstone Woman Sentenced for Arson-for-Hire Attempt of KC BusinessRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Gladstone, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to hire an arsonist to destroy her commercial building in Kansas City, Mo., which contained several businesses.
Mia Lee Jamison, 70, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to three years in federal prison without parole on both counts to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release.
On June 2, 2022, Jamison pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting a crime of violence – specifically, to maliciously destroy a building by arson – and one count of making a false statement to investigators of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.
Jamison admitted that she met with an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives at her home on several occasions in April 2019 to discuss hiring him to commit arson. She offered to pay the undercover agent $150,000 to burn her commercial building, Mia Plaza, which is located near the corner of 39th Street and Bell Avenue in Kansas City. Three businesses operated at that location at that time – 39th World of Spirits (a liquor and grocery store), Bob Wasabi Kitchen (a sushi bar), and Sahara Sheesha Lounge (a hookah lounge).
Jamison told the undercover agent that she was going to be losing ownership of the building due to a civil lawsuit, and wanted the building burned before April 29, 2019. She told the agent she had a $1.5 million insurance policy on the building (it was actually $2 million). She agreed to pay him $150,000 and gave him a deposit of $3,500. Jamison wanted the fire to look like an accident, and the undercover agent agreed to set the fire between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. to limit the risk to the tenants.
On April 28, 2019, Jamison met with the undercover agent for the last time. She told the undercover agent she had removed the video surveillance cameras at the building in preparation for the fire and wanted the building to be burned that night. Investigators recorded all the meetings between Jamison and the undercover agent by either audio or video recording equipment, or both.
At approximately 4 a.m. the next morning, federal investigators contacted Jamison at her residence. Investigators asked whether she burned down the building in question or whether she asked someone to burn the building down. On multiple occasions she denied requesting or hiring someone to destroy the building by fire.
Following the interview, they told Jamison her building had not actually been damaged by a fire but was still standing and placed her under arrest.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Drexel Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Failed Bank Robbery, FirearmsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Drexel, Mo., man who shot at law enforcement officers while fleeing from a failed bank robbery was sentenced in federal court today.
Jacob Allen Monteer, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 19 years and two months in federal prison without parole.
Monteer was found guilty following a bench trial on March 21, 2022, of one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms.
On Nov. 30, 2017, Monteer attempted to rob US Bank, 401 W. Newton in Versailles, Mo. Monteer, armed with a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol that had been reported as stolen during a residential burglary the day before, walked into the bank with a bandana across his face and demanded money at gunpoint. Monteer, who was barefoot, jumped over the teller station and opened the teller drawer, but there was no money in the drawer. Monteer fled from the bank in a 2014 Dodge Ram that had been stolen from a worksite in Kansas a few days earlier.
As Monteer led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit at speeds in excess of 100 miles-per-hour, he fired four shots through the windshield of the pickup at the police chief of Stover, Mo., who had set up a roadblock. Monteer then lost control of the stolen vehicle and crashed into a tree. He attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by the sheriff of Morgan County. During their struggle, Monteer was able to fire a round from the sheriff’s AR-15 .223-caliber rifle before being subdued.
Officers searched his vehicle and found the loaded 9mm pistol as well as a Mossberg rifle that also had been reported as stolen, a loaded magazine for the rifle, and drug paraphernalia. Monteer later admitted to law enforcement officers that he was a drug addict and used methamphetamine on a daily basis.
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the FBI, the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Stover, Mo., Police Department, and the Versailles, Mo., Police Department.
St. Joseph Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth, Heroin Trafficking and Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine and heroin to distribute and illegally possessing firearms.
Matthew J. Crossfield, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On June 1, 2022, Crossfield pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes.
St. Joseph police officers were called to a Dollar General Store on Dec. 11, 2019, in response to a theft that had just occurred. An officer checked the area where the thief had fled and saw Crossfield, who matched the description of the thief, walking into Oak Ridge Apartments. When Crossfield saw the officer, he immediately ran into an apartment building. The officer followed him into the building and caught up with him on the third floor. The officer ordered Crossfield to place his hands on the wall, but Crossfield started running with the officer in pursuit. The officer eventually caught up to Crossfield, tackled him to the ground, and detained him.
Crossfield had a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol in the front waistband of his jeans. Crossfield also had a fanny pack in his front left jacket pocket, which contained a plastic bag with approximately 10.9 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic bag that contained approximately 1.4 grams of heroin, and a plastic bag that contained 11.7 grams of heroin. Crossfield had another bag in his left front jeans pocket that contained approximately 14.1 grams of methamphetamine. His right front jeans pocket contained a bag with approximately 13.8 grams of marijuana and four suboxone strips.
On Jan. 13, 2021, investigators with the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the St. Joseph, Police Department were conducting surveillance on Crossfield, who had two active felony warrants for his arrest. They located Crossfield, who was driving a white PT Cruiser, in the area of Illinois Street and Stockyards Expressway in St. Joseph. When Crossfield pulled into the driveway at an Arby’s restaurant, a detective pulled in front of him and an investigator pulled behind him and activated his emergency lights. When Crossfield saw the detective pull in front of him, he attempted to get away by putting his car in reverse, striking the investigator’s patrol vehicle. After striking the patrol vehicle, Crossfield placed both hands in the air.
Investigators saw a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with an extended magazine (that contained 25 rounds) in between Crossfield’s legs. officers took Crossfield into custody and found a loaded KelTec .22-caliber handgun in his back pocket. Crossfield also had a belt around his waist (under his shirt) that contained a plastic bag with approximately 2.1 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic bag with approximately 14.7 grams of heroin, a plastic bag with approximately 3.4 grams of heroin, and two plastic bags with approximately 20-25 ecstasy pills. Officers searched Crossfield’s vehicle and found two bags of marijuana and rolling papers, a bag of approximately 21.7 grams of methamphetamine, a bag with approximately 11.5 grams of methamphetamine, a bag with 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, a bag with 4.1 grams of methamphetamine, a jar with 92.4 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Crossfield told investigators he had been selling 10 ounces of heroin every eight days since approximately August 2020. He also admitted he had been selling drugs since he was released from prison in 2018.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, and the St. Joseph, Mo., 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.
KC Pediatrician Pleads Guilty to $300,000 Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City-area pediatrician pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in causing fraudulent Medicare claims to be submitted for more than 1,000 beneficiaries for medications and equipment they didn’t need, which was part of a larger nationwide scheme to defraud Medicare.
“A physician abused his position of trust to cause fraudulent claims to be filed for more than 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “This theft of public funds was part of a larger nationwide scheme that includes prosecutions in other districts where additional perpetrators are being held accountable for their criminal actions.”
“To help protect the federal health care system, doctors participating in the Medicare program are obligated to provide medically appropriate services and prescriptions to their patients and bill the program properly,” stated Special Agent in Charge Curt L. Muller with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our agency and law enforcement partners are dedicated to identifying and pursuing providers who disregard these vital responsibilities in exchange for personal enrichment.”
Frederick Scott Dattel, 57, of Leawood, Kansas, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a federal information that charges him with making a false statement related to a health care matter.
Dattel, a licensed medical doctor with a specialty in pediatrics, owns and operates his own medical practice, Kansas City Pediatrics, L.L.C., in Kansas City, Mo.
Between August 2017 and February 2018, Dattel worked as a physician for RediDoc, L.L.C., a commercial telemedicine company. RediDoc’s owners unlawfully profited by paying kickbacks and bribes to doctors so those doctors would sign high volumes of expensive prescriptions and durable medical equipment orders that were not medically necessary.
National Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
RediDoc owners Stephen Luke and David Laughlin have pleaded guilty in the District of New Jersey to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In this scheme, marketers identified Medicare beneficiaries to target for expensive medications and durable medical equipment, and persuaded beneficiaries to try the medications and medical equipment – even when the beneficiary’s need for those items was not clear and was not discussed with the beneficiary’s doctor. The marketers then transmitted the beneficiaries’ medical information to RediDoc along with the proposed prescriptions or doctors’ orders for medical equipment that included pre-marked check-off boxes for particular drugs or equipment that would yield large reimbursements.
The marketers paid reimbursement proceeds to RediDoc and its owners. These orders were then filled by providers and pharmacies around the country who received lucrative reimbursements from federal health care benefit programs, including Medicare. In many circumstances, the providers and pharmacies then returned a portion of the health insurance reimbursements as kickbacks to the telemedicine companies, who, in turn, paid the doctors who had prescribed or ordered the unnecessary medical equipment and compounds. RediDoc ensured doctors would sign a high volume of expensive beneficiary prescriptions or medical equipment orders by paying the doctors bribes and kickbacks.
Dattel’s Guilty Plea
By pleading guilty today, Dattel admitted that, while working as a physician for RediDoc, he unlawfully caused false and fraudulent Medicare claims to be submitted for prescriptions for durable medical equipment and compounds without examining or speaking to patients and without any physician-patient relationship.
Between August 2017 and February 2018, while practicing telemedicine for RediDoc, Dattel reviewed 1,077 patient files. He issued orders or prescriptions for 1,075 beneficiaries for durable medical equipment, orthotics, and/or compounds. Dattel issued the orders and prescriptions without seeing, speaking to, or otherwise communicating or examining the beneficiaries, and without regard to whether the beneficiaries actually needed the durable medical equipment and compounds. These orders and prescriptions, as Dattel knew, were used to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Almost the entirety of Dattel’s completed, signed prescriptions and orders for durable medical equipment and compounds, as he knew, were not legitimately prescribed, not needed, and not used.
As a result of Dattel’s RediDoc prescriptions and orders, between Aug. 28, 2017, and Feb. 26, 2018, Medicare was billed at least $312,392 for durable medical equipment and compounds, and paid at least $211,542 for these orders. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Dattel must pay restitution in the full amount of $211,542.
During the same timeframe, RediDoc deposited a total of $22,270 in 13 payments into Dattel’s bank accounts.
Under federal statutes, Dattel is subject to a sentence of up to five 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 Brent Venneman and Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General.
Jury Convicts Lee’s Summit Man of $1 Million Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of a $1 million extortion scheme against a Kansas City, Mo., victim.
Leon L. Dudley III, 24, was found guilty on Wednesday, Nov. 9, of one count of extortion.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Dudley delivered an extortion note to a Kansas City, Mo., residence on Aug. 24, 2018. The victim reported to law enforcement that a contractor arrived at the residence that morning to complete some work and found an envelope containing a handwritten letter taped to the front of the house near the front door. The letter contained a threat to vandalize and burn down the residence if the victim did not pay $1 million by the next day. The note included a cell phone number for the victim to text when the money was ready, and warned against contacting law enforcement.
The next day, an unknown suspect broke several windows in the house. The homeowner hired a private security firm, but the suspect returned that evening and broke more windows and a sliding glass door.
Investigators traced the cell phone number on the extortion note to the residence where Dudley lives with his mother. Investigators also located Dudley’s Facebook account, which included a photograph of a handwritten note with similar handwriting to the extortion note, as well as photos of Dudley that matched the physical profile captured in surveillance video at the residence.
Investigators searched Dudley’s residence and found an Apple iPad in his bedroom. The iPad had been stolen during a burglary at the extortion victim’s residence while it was still under construction in June 2018. During a forensic examination of the iPad, investigators found it contained internet searches related to the victim, to burning down a house and purchasing explosive items, and two extortion notes similar to the handwritten note that was left at the victim’s residence.
Investigators also found fingerprints on the extortion note and on the envelope that matched to Dudley.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for two hours before returning a guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, Nov. 7.
Under federal statutes, Dudley is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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 Gregg R. Coonrod and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Thayer Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Thayer, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute and illegally possessing firearms.
Jamie K. Hutcherson, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Hutcherson was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.
On Feb. 28, 2022, Hutcherson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
A Howell County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy stopped Hutcherson, who was driving a 1999 silver Dodge Ram pickup, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Missouri Highway 14 on Oct. 3, 2020. Hutcherson, who did not have a valid driver’s license, had failed to stop at a stop sign.
Hutcherson had a loaded Taurus .22-caliber pistol in his back pocket. The deputy also found a loaded Harrington & Richardson .22-caliber revolver between the driver’s seat and the center console. A clear bag that contained four hypodermic syringes, approximately 54 grams of methamphetamine, and a small bag of marijuana was also found in the pickup.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hutcherson has three prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, two prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and two prior felony convictions for theft, as well as prior felony convictions for breaking and entering, receiving stolen property, illegally possessing a firearm, distributing methamphetamine in a correctional facility, and distributing, manufacturing, or producing a controlled substance.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josephine L. Stockard. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s 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.
Cooper County Sex Offender Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Prairie Home, Mo., sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges related to producing child pornography.
Bradley Leigh Knecht, 28, was charged in a four-indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Knecht, who was arrested today, has a prior Arkansas conviction for possessing or viewing child pornography.
The federal indictment alleges that Knecht used a child victim to produce child pornography from Feb. 1 to Oct. 20, 2022. Knecht is also charged with one count of advertising child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.
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 Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force and the FBI.
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 Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old victim.
Jared Neal Gonzales, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of using a minor to produce child pornography.
By pleading guilty today, Gonzales admitted he was in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Gonzalez also admitted they used a cell phone to record themselves having sexual intercourse. On at least two occasions, at Gonzales’s request, the child victim used her cell phone to send him videos of the couple engaged in sexual intercourse.
Under federal statutes, Gonzales is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 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 Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI 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."
Jury Convicts KC Man of Leading Criminal Enterprise Linked to Two MurdersRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of leading a criminal enterprise linked to two murders and multiple violent assaults, and which distributed at least a kilogram of methamphetamine every day for nearly a year in the Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph, and St. Louis, Mo., areas, as well as illegally possessing firearms.
Trevor Scott Sparks, 33, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of participating in a money-laundering conspiracy, one count of possessing firearms in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Sparks has remained in federal custody without bond since his arrest on Dec. 18, 2018.
Sparks engaged in the drug trafficking conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2017, to December 12, 2018. Although not charged, the trial jury heard evidence that the drug-trafficking organization led by Sparks was responsible for two murders and multiple violent assaults. In August 2018, James Hampton was seized by members of the organization. Hampton, who was in St. Louis, was seized because Sparks thought he could help find the drugs and money that had been stolen from the organization. When they realized Hampton could not or would not help, he was restrained and beaten. Hampton was then transported from St. Louis to Kansas City in the trunk of his car. Brittanie Broyles, who was with Hampton and witnessed him being beaten and restrained, was also taken to Kansas City.
On Aug. 6, 2018, Hampton’s car and body were discovered burning in Bates City, Mo. On Aug. 8, 2018, Broyles’s body was recovered by the Super Flea in the Northeast area of Kansas City. She had been murdered by two gunshots to her head.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Sparks has two prior felony convictions for robbery, and prior felony convictions for assault and possession of a controlled substance.
Sparks must pay a money judgment of up to $4,160,000, which represents the drug-trafficking proceeds, as determined by the court at the time of his sentencing. That forfeiture amount is based on the unlawful distribution of approximately 520 kilograms of methamphetamine, based on an average price of $8,000 per kilogram.
In addition to Sparks, 31 co-defendants have pleaded guilty in this case and its companion case.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about an hour before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Nov. 1, 2022.
Under federal statutes, Sparks 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. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades and Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, and Springfield, Mo., Police Departments, the Sni Valley Fire Department, the Jackson, Lafayette, Buchanan, and Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Departments, the FBI, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the St. James, Mo., Police Department.
KC Metro Strike Force
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
Pineville Couple Charged in Kidnapping, Murder of Pregnant Arkansas WomanRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pineville, Mo., couple has been charged in federal court for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman.
Amber Waterman, 42, and her husband, Jamie Waterman, 42, were charged in separate criminal complaints signed on Thursday, Nov. 3, and filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield today. The Watermans remain in federal custody pending detention hearings, which have not yet been scheduled.
Amber Waterman is charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death. The federal criminal complaint alleges that, between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 2022, Amber Waterman kidnapped Ashley Bush, who was approximately 31 weeks pregnant, in order to claim her unborn child as her own. She allegedly transported Ashley Bush from Maysville, Arkansas, to Pineville, resulting in her death.
Jamie Waterman is charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact to kidnapping resulting in death. The federal criminal complaint alleges that he assisted Amber Waterman, in order to hinder and prevent her apprehension, trial, and punishment, knowing she had committed the offense of kidnapping resulting in death.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaints, Amber Waterman adopted the false on-line persona of “Lucy” in order to meet Ashley Bush, then lured her to meet a second time to give her a ride to a purported job interview. Instead, the affidavit says, Amber Waterman killed Ashley Bush.
Amber Waterman allegedly led Jamie Waterman to the body of Ashley Bush, who was clothed and lying face down next to a boat near their house, covered in a blue tarp. Amber Waterman removed a ring from Ashley Bush’s finger and rolled her body onto the blue tarp, the affidavit says, which Jamie Waterman then dragged to a fire pit behind the residence. The Waterman’s allegedly burned the body, moved it onto the bed of Jamie Waterman’s blue GMC pickup, and drove a short distance from their residence to hide the body.
Ashley Bush was reported as a missing person on Monday, Oct. 31. Her fiancé told law enforcement that he saw her being driven as a passenger in a pickup truck by a woman he knew as “Lucy.” They had originally met “Lucy” at the Gravette, Ark., public library a few days earlier, at which time “Lucy” was driving the same pickup truck. During this meeting at the library, “Lucy” and Ashley Bush had discussed employment opportunities, and later that day, “Lucy” offered to drive her to meet her supervisor at a Bentonville, Ark., company.
On Oct. 31, Ashley Bush’s fiancé drove her to meet “Lucy” at a Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville, Ark. He later received a message to pick her up at the same Handi-Stop store, but while he was waiting for her to arrive, he saw “Lucy” and Ashley Bush drive past without stopping. He attempted to contact Ashley Bush by phone, but his calls went to voice mail. He later found her phone on the side of the highway.
Detectives with the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department examined the phone and found the Facebook account for “Lucy.” Detectives located a public posting on the account that read “I have a bunch of baby items if any moms to be need them.” Detectives traced the Facebook account to Jamie Waterman, and learned from examining Amber Bush’s Google records that she had traveled to Pineville, approximately .15 miles from the Watermans’ residence.
When investigators questioned the Watermans on Tuesday, Nov. 1, they were initially told that Amber had a miscarriage. Detectives noticed what appeared to be blood stains on the inside of a pickup truck that matched the description of the vehicle given by Ashley Bush’s fiancé. The vehicle was seized by law enforcement and search warrants obtained on Thursday, Nov. 3, for the vehicle and residence.
Detectives questioned Jamie Waterman again on Thursday, Nov. 3. According to the affidavit, he told detectives that, after they had questioned them and left their residence, Amber Waterman told him she had killed Ashley Bush and then quickly changed her story and said “Lucy” had killed her. She then led him to the body, which he assisted in disposing.
The charges contained in these complaints 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 are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and James J. Kelleher. They were investigated by the FBI, the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department, and the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas and the Benton County, Ark., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Court Documents:
waterman_amber_complaint_redacted.pdf waterman_jamie_complaint_redacted.pdfJury Convicts Independence Man Following Home InvasionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of illegally possessing the firearm he used in a home invasion robbery.
Theodore Watkins Jr., 32, was found guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 1, of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Independence police officers were called to a residence at 11:25 a.m. on May 12 by a neighbor who reported that he saw Watkins push his way into the residence of an elderly woman. The caller said they thought they observed something in the man’s hand when he forced entry.
Officers arrived at the residence and established a perimeter. A SWAT unit and hostage negotiators also arrived, and after making announcements on the loudspeaker, the victim came out of the residence through the front door. A short time later, Watkins came out of the residence and was taken into custody.
The victim, who was visibly shaken and had bruising on her right arm, told investigators that Watkins originally came to her door and offered to mow her lawn. He came back a few minutes later, she said, and forced the door open, forcing his way into the residence. Watkins pointed a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm handgun at her and said, “Where’s the money?”
Watkins dumped out her purse and took the money from it, then began going through her dresser drawers, closets, and other areas of the house. He used her cordless phone and her cell phone to make calls, including a call to his wife. At one point, while he was on the phone telling his wife to come and pick him up, he asked the victim for her address.
When police arrived, Watkins told the victim to tell officers they were friends and he was helping her do yard work. Watkins threatened that, if she didn’t, he would have his friends come back and kill her. Watkins hid his gun in a furnace return air vent in the bedroom. Police officers found the firearm when they searched the house.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Watkins has two prior felony convictions for robbery, two prior felony convictions for burglary, two prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, and prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, kidnapping, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about an hour and 15 minutes before returning a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Monday, Oct. 31.
Under federal statutes, Watkins 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 Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Independence, 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.
Mexico, Mo., Man Involved in Police Chase that Ended in Multi-Vehicle Crash, Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearms, Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mexico, Mo., man who was in a vehicle that led officers on a high speed chase before crashing into several other vehicles pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing firearms and methamphetamine to distribute.
Myron Samare Mahaney, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a Nissan Rouge, in which Mahaney was a passenger, that was traveling 95 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 54 on March 14, 2022. The Nissan accelerated rapidly when the trooper turned on his lights and siren then drove onto U.S. Highway 50 in Jefferson City, traveling 107 miles per hour. The Nissan exited onto Dix Road and crashed into multiple vehicles that were stopped in traffic on southbound Dix Road.
Mahaney fled on foot from the vehicle but was taken into custody by Jefferson City police officers. Mahaney was carrying a crossbody bag that contained approximately 219 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a loaded Springfield .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. He had $2,086 in cash in his front pocket.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Mahaney has a prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.
Under federal statutes, Mahaney is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 50 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 Heather D. Richenberger. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department.
KC Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Sex Trafficking Four VictimsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that involved four victims, including two teenagers.
Cory Lavell Smith, also known as “Fatz,” 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 18 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to 20 years of supervised release following incarceration.
On March 15, 2022, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking.
Smith admitted that he participated in a sex-trafficking conspiracy from Aug. 1, 2018, to Jan. 9, 2019, that caused four victims to engage in prostitution. One of the victims was 14 years old, and another victim was 16 years old.
On Jan. 7, 2019, Homeland Security Investigations agents in Kansas City, Mo., received a tip regarding a 14-year-old female (identified in court documents as V1) whose whereabouts were unknown. She had previously been apprehended in Blue Springs, Mo., after a traffic accident involving a stolen vehicle. She was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where she reported that she had been forced to have sex for money. The hospital gave her personal belongings, including her cell phone, to federal agents. Agents used the phone to identify a residence in Jackson, Mississippi, where they encountered a second, 16-year-old, victim (identified in court documents as V2). The second victim assisted agents in locating the first victim at a residence in Kansas City, Mo.
Agents set up surveillance at the Kansas City apartment building and soon saw V1 leave the residence and get into a vehicle with Smith, who was driving. When law enforcement officers identified themselves, Smith fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. Agents pursued the vehicle, which was ultimately brought to stop. Smith was arrested and V1 was taken into protective custody.
V1 identified Smith as her pimp. She told investigators that Smith groomed her into the commercial sex trade by befriending her, partying with her, buying her things, and educating her about the commercial sex trade. Smith provided her with drugs and deprived her of food to gain her compliance. V1 said she was paid $150 for a sex act, but Smith took all but $10 or $20 of that. Smith advertised V1 for commercial sex on various websites. She normally saw two or three men per day, and Smith drove her to local motels to conduct commercial sex acts. Smith kept V1 at the apartment in Kansas City and would lock the door to prevent her from leaving. She provided investigators with the names of two additional victims who had been trafficked by Smith.
V2 told investigators that Smith was nice at first but became more aggressive and threatening as time went on. V2 described an event where Smith almost “choked her out” over a $1,000 commercial sex fee. V2 said Smith continually threatened her, recounting specifically that he would try to whip them (Vl and V2) with extension cords or belts. V2 said she and Vl wanted to leave, but he threatened they could not get out of the business unless they died. V2 also told investigators that Smith would not provide food to the girls unless they completed commercial sex acts, and forced the girls to use drugs, which kept them compliant and awake all night.
Co-defendant Kenyashae Monae Roach, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on March 11, 2022, to transportation for illegal sexual activity and awaits sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lenexa, Kan., Police Department.
Jefferson City Man Charged with Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing heroin to distribute.
Tremaine Davol Bell, 41, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City with one count of possessing heroin to distribute. Bell remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, investigators received information that Bell was utilizing a storage unit at 311 Ellis Boulevard in Jefferson City to store a large quantity of heroin. Bell was seen leaving the storage facility at approximately 10:32 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, driving a Dodge Avenger. A Jefferson City police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop as Bell drove away from the storage facility, but Bell immediately pulled into a gas station parking lot and fled on foot. The officer chased Bell and was able to take him into custody on Christy Drive.
The officer searched Bell and found $1,210 in cash, in mostly $20 bills, in his pocket. A police dog alerted to the driver’s side door of Bell’s car. Officers searched the vehicle and found a marijuana blunt and a Glock 9mm handgun.
Officers also searched Bell’s storage unit and found approximately 582 grams of heroin, three additional handguns – two of which were reported stolen – and $29,988 in cash.
The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the MUSTANG Drug Task Force.
Independence Man Attempted to Flee with Officer in the Backseat, Sentenced for Illegal Firearms and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man who attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle while an officer in the back seat was attempting to get him out of the car was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms and heroin to distribute.
Hussein Ali, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
On March 17, 2022, Ali pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute and to being a felon in possession of firearms. Ali admitted that he was in possession of heroin and in possession of an FN Herstal 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Canik 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Kansas City, Mo., police officers were investigating a stolen car on Nov. 26, 2021, when they arrived at the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel, 3950 N. Mulberry Drive in Kansas City. Ali appeared to be asleep in the driver’s seat of the silver 2020 Nissan Altima. Officers were unable to wake him up, so an officer opened the driver’s side door and attempted to remove Ali from the vehicle. As the door was opened, Ali woke up and physically resisted the officer. A second officer entered the drive’s side rear passenger door to assist. Ali placed the car into drive and drove out of the parking lot, with the officer still in the rear passenger’s seat.
As Ali fled, he struck a parked police patrol car. Ali struggled with the officer in the back seat, at one point biting the officer’s hand. The officer was able to put the vehicle into park, causing it to come to an abrupt stop near the parking lot’s exit. Ali got out of the car but refused to comply with officers’ commands and continued to pull away from officers. An officer deployed his taser, which struck Ali in the chest but did not have an effect. Ali was taken to the ground and handcuffed.
Officers searched Ali and found the two pistols in a cross-body “fanny pack” style bag wrapped around his torso. The Canik pistol had been reported as stolen. Officers also found a container nearby that contained black tar heroin. Inside the vehicle, officers found approximately 13.3 grams of heroin, approximately 2.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and approximately 5.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine in the center console. Officers found firearm magazines and live ammunition in the trunk of the car.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Ali has three prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, as well as prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, resisting a lawful stop, and domestic assault.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. 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.
Four Southern Missouri Men Sentenced for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Four southern Missouri men were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine.
Patrick A. Dodson, also known as “Julio,” 42, and Leslie O. Collins, 48, bdoth of West Plains, Mo., Samuel L. Pyatt, also known as “Tippy,” 47, of Pomona, Mo., and Christopher L. Dusenbury, 32, of Bowling Green, Mo., were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips.
Dodson was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison without parole. Pyatt was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Dusenbury was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. Collins was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole.
Dodson and Pyatt pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Feb. 28, 2017, to Feb. 28, 2020. Dodson and Pyatt obtained methamphetamine from co-defendant James W. Fithen, Jr., also known as “Boss,” 37, of West Plains, who acquired kilogram-level quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico. Dodson and Pyatt then distributed the methamphetamine to others. Dodson admitted he was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine for approximately four years. During that time, the Fithen drug-trafficking organization was selling, on average, 10 kilograms of methamphetamine per month, at a profit of approximately $100,000 per month.
Dodson also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and to two counts of being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Dodson admitted that he was in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol on Oct. 6, 2019, in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and while he was a felon and a drug user. Dodson also admitted that he was in possession of a Bryco 9mm pistol on Dec. 17, 2019, while he was a felon and a drug user.
Dusenbury pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Collins pleaded guilty to controlling a place for the distribution of illegal drugs.
Fithen has pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, as well as to aiding and abetting the attempted possession of methamphetamine to distribute, and awaits sentencing.
Co-defendant Bradley J. Russell , 58, of West Plains, was sentenced on Oct. 6, 2021, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Seven additional co-defendants also have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
Dodson was the passenger in a vehicle that led police officers on a high-speed chase in Howell County, Mo., on Oct. 6, 2019. A Howell County sheriff’s deputy saw several items being thrown out of his vehicle during the chase. The driver lost control of the vehicle and struck an embankment, knocking down two fence posts. The deputy saw the loaded Ruger pistol thrown from the vehicle, to which Dodson later admitted possessing. Dodson and the driver were arrested; Dodson was in possession of .82 grams of methamphetamine and $170 in cash. Officers recovered two boxes with fentanyl patches and a plastic bag that contained marijuana, which had been thrown from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found methamphetamine, fentanyl patches, marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Dodson has five prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
On April 16, 2020, law enforcement was informed that a county employee who was grading the gravel road on County Road 2630, approximately a quarter mile north of State Route N Highway, had located an unknown quantity of suspected methamphetamine inside a .30-caliber ammunition container. At that time, the officer recalled having a conversation with Dodson in late 2019 in which Dodson stated he had placed an ammunition can containing approximately one to two kilograms of methamphetamine somewhere around State Route N in Pomona. Dodson told the officer he was high when he hid it and had spent two weeks trying to locate it. The officer recovered the container and the methamphetamine.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the South Central Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Howell, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, the Fulton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department, and the Arkansas 16th Judicial Drug Task Force.
Former Youth Director at Fort Leonard Wood Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former soldier in the Army National Guard was sentenced in federal court today for sexually abusing four children over several years while he was director of the youth ministry at Fort Leonard Wood U.S. Army Base.
David J. McKay, 43, of Waynesville, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced McKay to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.
On April 29, 2021, McKay pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and four counts of sexually abusing a minor.
McKay, at the time an Army National Guard First Sergeant, was the youth ministry director for the Religious Services Office at Fort Leonard Wood. McKay is not currently serving as a member of the National Guard.
McKay admitted that he sexually abused four victims, ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old, on dozens of occasions from 2010 to 2017. The sexual abuse occurred at Fort Leonard Wood and various other locations within Pulaski County, Mo. The victims also reported being abused during the youth group’s ski trips to Colorado and on camping trips at Fort Leonard Wood.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at the Fort Leonard Wood Army Base, the Pulaski County, Mo., Prosecutor’s Office, and the Waynesville, 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."
Grandview Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Mo., man who used his Snapchat account to sell illegal drugs and firearms pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing a firearm after selling a stolen handgun to an undercover federal agent.
Antonio Johnson, 20, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
An undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arranged four controlled purchases of marijuana from Johnson in July and August 2020. Johnson was active on social media, especially the social media platform Snapchat. Investigators observed numerous videos and photos of Johnson on his Snapchat account, many of which show Johnson smoking what appears to be marijuana and displaying firearms and large amounts of cash. Johnson often appeared to be advertising he sale of suspected marijuana and firearms.
When Johnson met the undercover agent for the first transaction, he was armed with a pistol placed between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle he was driving, and a black rifle sitting on the lap of a passenger in the vehicle.
On Aug. 31, 2020, the undercover federal agent contacted Johnson and told him she wanted to purchase a pistol from him, and they agreed on a price of $450. On Sept. 1, 2020, Johnson met the undercover agent at his apartment and handed her a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a baggie that contained 29 grams of marijuana for which she paid a total of $680 ($450 for the pistol and $230 for the marijuana). The pistol had been stolen from the personal vehicle of a Grain Valley, Mo., police officer in August 2020. Johnson also agreed to get her more firearms.
Under federal statutes, Johnson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five 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 Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Operation LeGend
Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.