Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Lee’s Summit West High School teacher was sentenced in federal court today for distributing child pornography.

Seth Brummond, 39, of Greenwood, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The Court also ordered Brummond to serve supervised release for 10 years following his incarceration.

Brummond pleaded guilty to sharing over 60 videos depicting child pornography using the Kik Messaging application between September 2024 and December 2024.

In December 2024, Lee’s Summit Police Officers, acting on a Cyber Tip Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, arrested Brummond on his way to work and seized his cell phone. Investigators located hundreds of images and videos containing depictions of child pornography on Brummond’s cell phone. In a subsequent interview, Brummond admitted to investigators that he had shared child pornography on the Kik Messaging application.  

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Lee’s Summit, Missouri Police Department and the Heart of America Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.

Project Safe Childhood

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years in prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

According to court documents, in 2019 law enforcement began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of a co-defendant. The investigation identified the co-defendant as a primary organizer of a drug trafficking organization responsible for methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine distribution. Members of the organization included Lopez-Sanchez, and several others. 

On April 16, 2021, surveillance observed Lopez-Sanchez arriving at a residence in Belton, Mo., in a black 2015 GMC Yukon with Texas license plates. Lopez-Sanchez had arrived prior to an arranged controlled drug purchase by a confidential human source. Lopez-Sanchez was observed carrying a blue bag into the residence. Later that day, the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped the black Yukon as it was travelling westbound on Interstate 44 near the Oklahoma state line. Inside the Yukon, law enforcement recovered 995 grams of cocaine and $58,601.00.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in an extensive drug trafficking organization.

Russell L. Spencer Jr., 47, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of phencyclidine (PCP).

In October of 2021, investigators with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing PCP in the Kansas City area. From May to September 2023, investigators conducted a Title III wiretap on telephones used by members of the drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted phone calls between Spencer and his co-conspirators, arranging for the purchase and sale of PCP.

Throughout the conspiracy, Spencer traveled out of state to procure PCP for distribution in Kansas City. Despite owning several of his own vehicles, Spencer spent more than $27,000 dollars on rental vehicles and drove more than 80,000 miles in those rental vehicles over a 19-month period during which  he reported zero income to the Internal Revenue Service. Spencer was the final remaining defendant of 16, the other 15 co-defendants previously having pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.

Under federal statutes, Spencer, Jr. is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole and up to 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 is currently scheduled for Oct. 1, 2026.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated for an hour and a half before returning a guilty verdict to Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began Monday, April 27.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Gibson and Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

The Justice Department announced today that the owners of residential rental properties in and around Springfield, Missouri have agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the properties’ former owner and manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

“A home should be a place of safety, not fear and exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously holding landlords accountable when they use their power to violate the rights of vulnerable tenants.”

“No tenant should ever be forced to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “Exploiting power for sexual coercion and retaliation is not only immoral, but it’s also illegal. The result of this case makes it clear that the Western District of Missouri will work tirelessly to hold accountable any landlord who violates a tenant’s rights.”

“The Fair Housing Act protects against sex discrimination precisely to prohibit this kind of vile and predatory behavior against vulnerable women,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “When landlords sexually harass their female tenants, they are not only violating the law but undermining the sense of safety, privacy, and security that the home provides. The Trump Administration will always stand with victims and hold perpetrators accountable.”

“Today’s settlement makes clear that landlords who abuse their position of power by exploiting tenants’ basic needs for housing will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will not tolerate the use of housing as a tool for coercion, harassment, or abuse, and we will continue to work with our partners to hold offenders fully responsible.”

The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in March 2024, alleges that for over a decade, Jimmie Bell sexually harassed and retaliated against female tenants of rental homes he owned and/or managed in and around Springfield. The suit alleges that Bell’s conduct included making unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants, exposing and touching his genitals in front of female tenants, touching and grabbing female tenants in a sexual manner without their consent, requesting sex or sex acts from female tenants in exchange for tangible housing benefits like excusing late or unpaid rent or the opportunity to rent another home, and taking adverse housing actions such as initiating evictions or refusing to make needed repairs against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.

Under the settlement agreement, Defendants must pay $250,000 to former tenants who were harmed by Jimmie Bell’s harassment. Defendants must also make good faith efforts to have all retaliatory evictions against these tenants removed from public court records and credit reports; and Defendants must cease any ongoing efforts to obtain payments from former tenants who faced retaliatory evictions. Finally, the settlement agreement mandates training to prevent future discrimination, including sexual harassment, at Defendants’ residential rental properties. The Department’s lawsuit named Jimmie Bell as a Defendant, as well as Defendants Fourth Bell LLC and the trustee of Second Bell Trust, owners of rental properties that were managed by Jimmie Bell. Jimmie Bell died in February 2025 and his son, Mark Bell, was substituted as his successor Defendant.

The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint, completed an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General also participated in the investigation and assisted in the litigation.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.

Rahulkumar D. Patel, 41, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $7,696,085 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.

On May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The federal indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.

Through Patel’s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.

Under federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, five, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. 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 Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
 

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Branson West, Mo., man was charged with twelve counts of money laundering in a now-unsealed federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Missouri.

David Vernon Lott, 69, was indicted by a federal grand jury with engaging in money laundering for offenses occurring between July 18, 2025, and Aug. 4, 2025. The indictment was unsealed following Lott’s arrest and initial court appearance today.

The indictment alleges that Lott owned and operated Missouri Holding Group (MHG), LLC which was purported to be an investment business that promised potential investors returns of 10:1, to be repaid within a short period of time. Instead of using monies for investments as advertised, the indictment alleges the defendant used those funds for personal use, beginning as early as January 2018, and continuing through December of that year. The indictment further alleges that the defendant used those funds to pay off a personal residence, which he sold in 2025, and used the proceeds of that sale in 12 separate transactions, each over $10,000.

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 Tony Brown. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Missouri Secretary of State’s Securities Enforcement Division.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in a scheme to fraudulently obtain two Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans totaling $92,233.32, guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Mark Crosby, 43, was the owner of a Missouri limited liability company called Crosby Auto LLC. On May 14, 2020, Crosby submitted a $71,417 PPP loan application on behalf of Crosby Auto. In the loan application, Crosby falsely stated that, in 2019, Crosby Auto had a monthly payroll of $28,567, and gross receipts of $736,928. In reality, Crosby Auto did not have that payroll or annual revenue.

Based on the fraudulent representations Crosby made in the PPP loan application, on June 2, 2020, $71,400 was transferred to Crosby Auto’s bank account.

Crosby was also the owner of a business called MSC & Sons Trucking LLC. MSC & Sons Trucking LLC applied for a $20,833.32 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The application stated the business had gross income of $131,848 in 2019. The application included a 2019 Schedule C which stated the business had gross receipts of $131,848, and contract labor expense of $69,129. The Schedule C was not filed with the IRS and MSC & Sons Trucking LLC did not have gross receipts or payroll in those amounts.

On May 5, 2021, MSC & Sons Trucking LLC’s account received the $20,833.32 PPP loan.

Under federal statutes, Crosby 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. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on a set of 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 Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars.  Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien has been convicted of illegally reentering the United States.

According to evidence introduced at trial, Jaime Cruz-Hernandez, 37, was stopped and arrested on Jan. 6, 2026, by the Grandview, Mo. Police Department for driving while intoxicated. It was then determined that Cruz-Hernandez is a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally, after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2019.

Under federal statutes, Cruz-Hernandez is subject to a sentence of up to two 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 Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began on April 22, 2026.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Viet Le. It was investigated by Grandview, Missouri Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigation.

Operation Take Back America

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On April 22, 2026, a Washington D.C. man was sentenced in federal court for one count of assault on a Bureau of Prisons’ nurse at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners.

Lawrence C. Boykin, 72, was serving a prior sentence from 1991 for his conviction on multiple counts of sodomy on a minor and indecent acts with a minor when he assaulted a nurse on duty at the Bureau of Prisons in Springfield.

On December 21, 2024, while serving his prison sentence, Boykin began verbally abusing staff and then threw a food tray at the victim. The food tray struck the victim causing a broken nose, laceration, and concussion.

U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool sentenced Boykin to 46 months imprisonment, run consecutively with the remainder of Boykin’s 1991 prior sex offense conviction, followed by one year of post-release supervision.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Plaza Middle School teacher has been charged in federal court on attempted child exploitation charges.

Richard Villigram, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. on Wed., April 22, 2026. Villigram had his initial appearance this afternoon.

The federal complaint charges Villigram with one count of Attempted use of Interstate Facility to Entice a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity and one count of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Villigram, over the course of several days, engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Villigram arranged to meet that individual to engage in sexual conduct and also asked them to send him pornographic images. Villigram was later arrested on April 21, 2026, after he arrived at the location he had arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct.

A subsequent search of Villigram’s cell phone by law enforcement located text messages between Villigram and the purported minor. Also located were messages from Villigram to a third person stating, in sexually graphic terms, that he was trying to meet someone to engage in sexual contact. Villigram later told law enforcement officers that he was referring to the purported minor in those text messages.

Villigram is currently in federal custody pending a detention hearing, on Mon., April 27, 2026.

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 David Luna. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri 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."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien was found guilty by a federal trial jury for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.

Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty of one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.

On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez’s identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States.

The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, (“ICE-ERO”) who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations (“ICE-HSI”), it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, April 20, 2026.

Under federal statutes, Cerrato-Avilez is facing up to two years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by ICE-HSI, ICE-ERO, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Chinese national pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for unlawfully photographing a vital military installation and military equipment without authorization.

Qilin Wu, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to one count of taking photographs of a vital military installation and military equipment without authorization.

According to court documents, on Dec. 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated a report of a suspicious minivan near the perimeter of the military installation. Air Force patrolmen were dispatched to the area to investigate, and encountered Wu, who stated that he was there to observe the B-2 Spirit aircraft. The patrolmen informed Wu that he was not permitted to take photographs or make video recordings of the military installation.

AFOSI was notified the following day that the same minivan was identified at a perimeter fence of Whiteman Air Force Base. Whiteman Air Force agents went to the area to investigate and again contacted Wu. Wu admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and numerous photographs of Whiteman’s perimeter fencing, a gate, and military equipment. Wu showed investigators his phone, including images of Whiteman Air Force Base and military equipment that Wu had recorded. In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted he had taken of the installation and of military equipment. Wu also admitted to photographing another U.S. Air Force base and its military aircraft.

According to court documents, Wu is a Chinese national who illegally entered the United States on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Az. At that time, Wu was arrested by immigration authorities for illegally being present in the United States. Due to a lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance to await immigration removal proceedings originally scheduled for Feb. 9, 2027. On Dec. 3, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) re-arrested Wu.

Under federal statutes, Wu is subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes; any sentence would 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 U.S. Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Brendan P. Geary of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force’s Security Forces, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a sawed off, Winchester 12-gauge shotgun.

Christopher W. Abrams, 52, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to fifty-four months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of an unregistered firearm.

On Feb. 10, 2024, officers were called to the area of Independence Avenue and Van Brunt Boulevard regarding a possible armed robbery.  Upon arrival, officers encountered Abrams. During a frisk of Abrams, officers located a sawed off, Winchester, Model 37, 12-gauge, single-shot shotgun inside the front waistline of his jeans.  The shotgun’s stock had been cut down to a wood pistol grip, with black duct tape.  The barrel had multiple saw marks and appeared to have been cut short.  The shotgun was loaded with a live shotgun shell.

Abrams, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of twelve prior felony offenses before today’s hearing.

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

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Belton, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for selling fentanyl to a confidential informant.

Raimon Martez Gilliam, also known as “Ray Money,” “Money,” and “Money Mike,” 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.

According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, a Jackson County Drug Task Force confidential informant (“CI”) contacted Gilliam to purchase fentanyl.  Gilliamdirected the CI to meet him at a location near Indiana Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. Upon arrival, Gilliam entered the front passenger seat of the CI’s vehicle. The CI handed Gilliam $5,400 and in exchange, Gilliam gave the CI one baggie of purple fentanyl and one baggie of white fentanyl. Once the transaction was completed, the CI left the area and met with detectives who took possession of the suspected fentanyl.  Thereafter, the evidence was sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory for testing.  Following analysis, a forensic scientist determined that both bags contained fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, with a combined weight of 73.02 grams.

Under federal statutes, Gilliam is subject to a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 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 Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force.

Operation Take Back America

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan National has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and illegal entry into the United States.

Edilberto Gonzalez-Barrera, 40, was charged in a two-count indictment on April 14, 2026. The indictment alleges Gonzalez-Barrera illegally entered the United States without being properly admitted to the country, and illegally possessed of a Sig-Sauer P365X, 9mm firearm.

Under federal statutes, illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924 (a)(8) is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole.  Further, under federal statute, illegal entry in the United States without being properly admitted to the country, pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325, is subject to a sentence of up to 6 months imprisonment.  The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department.

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.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for attempted enticement of a minor and advertising child pornography

Ryan Edward Hine, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 30 years in federal prison without parole to be followed by 20 years supervised release for enticing a minor to produce child pornography and for advertising child pornography to other individuals over the internet.

According to court documents, Hine began texting with a 15-year-old female in in July 2018.  Hine regularly requested her to produce and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Hine traveled across state lines on a monthly basis in 2019 to engage in sexual acts with the child victim, which he recorded with his cell phone to produce videos of child sexual abuse.  This continued until 2020.

Hine, posing as a minor female, continued to recruit minor victims to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).  Hine then posed as the minor female and advertised the CSAM for sale to adult buyers over the internet.  

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner.  It was investigated by HSI New Jersey, Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy and HSI Kansas City, Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Sabatini.   

Project Safe Childhood

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Denver, Co., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms.

Jason S. Thompson, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years in federal prison without parole for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms. Thompson was found guilty on Jan. 6, 2026, after a two-day jury trial.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 2024, officers with the Nixa, Mo., Police Department contacted Thompson, who was camping in a minivan in a Walmart parking lot. Thompson initially provided officers with false identification. When officers attempted to arrest him, Thompson fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. Once Thompson gave officers correct identifying information, they learned he had a federal probation and parole warrant for his arrest.

Officers searched Thompson and found a small bag of cocaine and more than $1,000 cash. When officers searched the minivan they located drug paraphernalia, a large plastic bag containing nearly 140 grams of fentanyl pills, and two loaded firearms: a Glock model 19 and a HS Produkt Hellcat.

According to court documents, Thompson has an extensive criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to distribute multiple controlled substances, and theft.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver, James J. Kelleher, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nixa, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Jermaine J. Arrington, 42, was sentenced in United States District Court to one hundred eight months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On May 20, 2025, officers were called to 31st and Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo., regarding an armed disturbance with shots fired.  When officers arrived in the area, they encountered Arrington, who grabbed his waistband and began to walk away.  Officers gave commands to Arrington to show his hands and get on the ground; however, Arrington refused and ran from officers.  During the foot chase, Arrington pulled a black handgun from his waistband and tossed it over a vehicle.  Arrington was taken into custody afterward.  Following his arrest, officers found approximately 2 grams of methamphetamine in Arrington’s front pocket.  Officers retrieved the firearm, which was a Smith & Wesson, Model M&P, 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen from Olathe, Ks, in 2023. The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and twelve rounds in the magazine.

Arrington, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of six prior felony offenses before today’s hearing.

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

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his involvement in an armed assault against a member of a rival motorcycle club.

Bryan S. Fletcher, also known as “Fletch,” 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to eighty-four months in federal prison without parole for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Sept. 17, 2022, Fletcher and twelve other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo.  Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle.  Fletcher, who was an associate of the Los Valerosos at the time, and others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway. The victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg.  Fletcher and several others fled the scene before law enforcement could arrive.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. woman was sentenced in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

Idella Gardner, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Kays to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 9, 2024, Gardner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime.

Between January 2019 and July 2022, Gardner was an armed drug dealer who actively participated in the purchase and distribution of cocaine. The investigation established that Gardner aided members of a street gang and other members of the conspiracy on at last forty occasions where she took part in coordinating drug transactions. When law enforcement officers arrested Gardner on Mar. 9, 2022, she was found in possession of cocaine, cell phones, firearm magazines, and live ammunition.  The investigation relied on court-authorized wire intercepts of co-defendant’s telephones, physical surveillance, interviews, and text message evidence documenting the defendant’s involvement in drug trafficking.

At the sentencing hearing, the Government also presented evidence regarding Gardner’s involvement in a 2021 homicide.  The evidence established that on Apr. 22, 2021, Gardner discharged a firearm into an occupied apartment near the intersection of Lockridge Avenue and Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, intending to target another individual.

As a result of the shooting, an innocent female victim, identified as A.O. in court documents, was struck in the head while lying in bed inside of her apartment.  When A.O. failed to show up for work, a concerned colleague went to A.O.’s apartment and contacted law enforcement after observing A.O. unresponsive through a bedroom window.  At the time she was located, A.O. was barely breathing.  She was transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later.

The Court found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Gardner was responsible for the fatal shooting.  Considering this finding and the defendant’s role in the drug conspiracy, the Court imposed a substantial upward variance from the advisory sentencing guideline range.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Moeder.  It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan National illegally residing in the Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, area, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien after subsequently convicted of a prior aggravated felony crime.

Miguel Guzman-Guerra, also known as Joel Montoya Ortiz, 38, was sentenced yesterday by District Court Chief Judge Brian Wimes for the offense of illegal re-entry into the United States by an alien after having been previously convicted of an aggravated felony offense.  Mr. Guzman-Guerra was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons.  Upon serving his period of imprisonment, Mr. Guzman-Guerra will be deported to his native country of Guatemala.

On Jan. 23, 2025, officers with the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department arrested Mr. Guzman-Guerra during a traffic stop and charged him with driving while revoked, identity theft, and failure to register as a sex offender.  Upon determining that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE).  Agents responded and confirmed that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally in the United States after having been removed previously in 2014.

Mr. Guzman-Guerra’s was previously convicted for a prior aggravated felony offense of sexual indecency with a child, prior to his illegal re-entry into the United States.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays for his involvement in an armed assault against a member of rival motorcycle club.

Jeffrey S. Hannah, also known as “Got-It,” 43, of Grain Valley, Mo., pleaded guilty today to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and one count of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Sept.17, 2022, Hannah and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo.  Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle.  Hannah and the others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg.

Under federal statutes, Hannah is subject to a sentence of not less than five years and up to 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 Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Ks., man was sentenced yesterday for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Mo., and for transporting child pornography on his cell phone into the United States from Mexico.

Frank Guereca, 24, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 97 months in prison without parole for stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee and for transportation of child pornography.

On June 16, 2023, Guereca and two others backed a stolen U-Haul truck into the store of a federally licensed firearms dealer, located in Raytown, Mo., creating a hole in the front of the business.  Thereafter, Guereca and the two others entered through the hole and took 41 firearms from the business.  One of the stolen pistols from the gun store was recovered in Tracy, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2023. A second stolen pistol was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Dec. 19, 2023. A third stolen pistol was recovered in Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 6, 2024.

Guereca was arrested on April 25, 2024, as he attempted to cross back into the United States from Mexico. Guereca had in his possession a Samsung Galaxy cell phone, which was seized by law enforcement.  Subsequent review of the contents of the phone pursuant to a federal search warrant revealed at least 250 images and 70 videos depicting child pornography, which Guereca transported into the United States from Mexico.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Guereca had previously crossed the border approximately 20 times since the burglary and theft on June 16, 2023.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Raytown, 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."

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

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a scheme to alter and forge stolen United States Treasury checks.

Jevon P. Crudup, Jr., 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Grey Kays to 57 months in prison without parole.  The court also ordered Crudup to pay $88,020.33 to the victims of the scheme.

On May 20, 2025, Crudup pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.

According to court documents, Crudup schemed to defraud financial institutions by passing stolen United States Treasury checks that had been altered and forged. The defendant deposited the altered and forged Treasury checks at ATMs using the bank accounts of other persons he met online. These persons provided the defendant with their account information including debit cards and PIN numbers because they believed Crudup would help them make money.

Crudup would then use these individuals’ debit cards to withdraw funds from the account, or the defendant would require these individuals to make cash withdrawals and electronic funds transfers to him using various online payment systems.

In this manner, Crudup passed at least fifteen stolen and forged United States Treasury checks resulting in an intended loss of approximately $160,000.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., Man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a Beretta, PX4 Storm, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Craig D. Monks, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 4 years in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Oct. 2, 2024, Independence, Missouri Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on Monks’s vehicle due to expired tags.  A patrol officer noticed a firearm lodged between the driver’s seat and center console and asked Monks if there was a firearm in the vehicle.  Monks responded that there was a firearm “right here.”  The officer asked Monks to exit the vehicle and then the officer secured the firearm for officer safety.  The officer conducted a subsequent criminal background check and discovered that Monks had a prior felony conviction.  Later, the officer learned Monks was a convicted felon.  In a subsequent interview, Monks admitted to possessing the firearm and stated that he thought it was a “dumb” rule that felons could not possess firearms.  It is against federal law for a convicted felon to knowingly possess a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. Police Department and further assistance was provided by the Kearney, Mo. Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for possessing more than 56 pounds of methamphetamine and for entering the United States illegally after deportation.

Apolinar Gocovachi Pacheco, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 8 years in prison without parole for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and for unlawful reentry after removal.

On Sept. 3, 2024, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a gray 2011 Acura MDX on Interstate 29, near the N.W. 112th Street exit in Kansas City, Mo.  An adult male, identified as Pedro Alberto Quiroz Ayala, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was driving the Acura, with a female juvenile in the front passenger seat and Pacheco and another adult male, identified as Pablo DeJesus Peralta Anguis, in the back seat.

When the trooper searched the vehicle, he found a large duffle bag in the third-row seating area that contained approximately 55.6 pounds of methamphetamine. He also found a grocery bag that contained approximately one pound of methamphetamine on the floorboard where the female juvenile had been sitting, and a loaded firearm in the driver’s door pouch.

When the four occupants got out of the vehicle for the search, Ayala and Anguis fled on foot. A manhunt ensued and both were apprehended a short time later.

Pacheco told investigators that he arrived in the United States approximately two weeks earlier from Nogales Sonora, Mexico.  Pacheco said he entered the United States illegally and paid $6,000 to cross the border.  Pacheco said he was asked to travel from Kansas City, Kansas, to Omaha to pick up drugs by Anguis.  Pacheco said he was promised to receive a significant amount of U.S. currency by Anguis for assisting with the transportation of the drugs from Omaha to the Kansas City area.

Officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Pacheco had previously been found illegally in the United States by Border Patrol Agents near Nogalez, Az. on Aug. 22, 2024.  Pacheco was removed from the United States to Mexico that same day.

Co-defendants Ayala and Anguis have each pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and Anguis has also pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry after removal.  Both await sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Jackson County Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national in the Kansas City area has pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips for his role in a conspiracy to stage numerous armed robberies so that the purported victims of these crimes, who were illegal aliens in the United States, could use their status as crime victims to fraudulently obtain visas.

On Jan. 30, 2025, Oscar Gutierrez, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., a citizen of Mexico, was charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. The federal criminal complaint, which was unsealed and made public following Gutierrez’s arrest and initial court appearance, charged Gutierrez with participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain immigration visas.  On February 6, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Gutierrez and co-defendant Jose Luis Morales Salgado on the same charges.

On March 31, 2026, Gutierrez pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently obtain immigration visas for aliens.  Gutierrez admitted that immigrants contacted Salgado to arrange for themselves to become “victims” of staged robberies so they could submit applications for U-Visas, which are granted to crime victims. These immigrants, who were either illegally present in the United States or in the United States legally through work visas, paid Salgado thousands of dollars to participate. In exchange, Salgado directed them to the location of a planned staged robbery on a particular day and time.

Salgado previously pled guilty to his role in the conspiracy on March 23, 2026.  In his plea hearing, Salgado admitted that he recruited individuals to pose as robbers during the staged robberies and provided directions to those individuals. One of the persons Salgado recruited to pose as a robber was Gutierrez.

Salgado admitted that each robbery involved aliens who later told police they had car trouble and pulled over and got out of their vehicle to diagnose the car trouble. Soon after stopping, another vehicle would arrive and park next to, or in front of, the purported victim’s vehicle. The robber, wearing a medical mask over his face and brandishing a firearm, would strike the purported victims in the head or face, take their cash, and typically fire two rounds into the purported victim’s vehicle.  In today’s guilty plea hearing,

Investigators with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department initially identified 11 incidents in which the reported robberies followed this pattern. These cases were linked to each other, based in part, on leads generated from the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN utilized ballistic imaging technology to compare cartridge case markings on the expended cartridges from each crime scene.  Detectives determined there was likely one firearm used in the commission of all of the robberies. Detectives gathered information from city cameras and license plate readers to identify the vehicles used in the robberies, the affidavit says, which led them to Gutierrez.

Salgado instructed the aliens to falsely report to law enforcement officials how the robberies occurred, and advised them how to make these false reports in an effort to bolster their applications for U-Visas.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act was designed to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute certain crimes while also protecting victims of crimes who are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. A foreign national is eligible for a U-Visa if he/she was the victim of qualifying criminal activity, suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of the criminal activity, possessed information about the criminal activity, and was likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.

During today’s guilty plea, Gutierrez admitted that he engaged in several of these fake robberies to bolster fraudulent U-visa applications for aliens.

According to court documents, a source told investigators the number of purported victims involved in the scheme was well over 100. Court documents also indicate that investigators identified 11 robberies involving 33 purported victims that occurred as part of the conspiracy between Dec. 29, 2021, and July 13, 2024.  Of those 33 immigrants, 18 submitted U-Visa applications falsely claiming to be victims of violent crimes.

An undercover federal agent and a law enforcement source met with Salgado on Jan. 22, 2025, and recorded their meeting. The undercover agent made arrangements to pay Salgado $4,000 for a robbery to be staged in order to fraudulently obtain a U-Visa. Salgado told the undercover agent he would “put on a grand show.” Once the plans were agreed upon, the undercover agent paid Salgado $500 with a promise to pay the balance later. The undercover agent met with Salgado again on Thursday, Jan. 30, and Salgado was arrested.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in drug trafficking and the illegal possession of a firearm.

Brandon R. Haywood, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 20 years in federal prison without parole for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.  Haywood was convicted of those offenses at the conclusion of a jury trial held in September 2025.

On Feb. 4, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a store in Independence, Mo., regarding a sexual assault, for which Haywood is charged in Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court.  On Feb. 15, 2023, Haywood returned to the same store and was arrested by officers.  His vehicle was towed from the scene in anticipation of a search warrant.  When the state search warrant was executed on his vehicle, investigators located a Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber firearm; the defendant’s wallet; and approximately 30 grams of cocaine in the center console. Prior to this incident, Haywood was convicted of the felony offense of Voluntary Manslaughter in Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court.            

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh Ragner and Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Daniel E. Lablance, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Dec. 10, 2023, officers were called to E. 59th St. and U.S. 71 Hwy., Kansas City, Mo., regarding a stranded motorist.  When officers arrived, they saw a silver Infiniti with a Missouri temporary tag in between two lanes of traffic.  The vehicle was not moving with a green traffic light at the intersection. When officers approached, they observed the driver, Lablance, who appeared to be passed out in the driver’s seat. Lablance had a Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol on his lap.  As officers tried to remove Lablance from his vehicle, Lablance put the vehicle in drive and fled the scene, running over stop sticks and deflating some of the vehicle’s tires.  During the police pursuit that followed, Lablance ran over a second set of stop sticks, deflating the Infiniti’s remaining tires.  Lablance was eventually stopped and taken into custody at Meyer and U.S. 71 Hwy.  When arrested, Lablance was wearing a shoulder bag that contained 38 alprazolam pills.

Lablance, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of nine prior felony offenses before today’s hearing.

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Chicago, Il., man was sentenced in federal court today for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.

Dwayne D. Adams, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.  Adams was sentenced to 27 months incarceration and ordered to pay $165,821.74 in restitution to the victims.

Adams conspired with others to defraud United States military service men and women through the use of social media.  Adams is the third and final defendant to be sentenced for his role in defrauding active service members of the United States military.

According to court documents, Adams conspired with others to contact service members who had recently joined the United States military through various social media platforms.  Upon communicating with each military member, a person within the conspiracy would use the information obtained from the social media platform contact to then contact the service member claiming to be a senior military official.  In their fake role as a senior military member, Adams and others would tell each service member they were receiving the incorrect salary and were owed more money than they were being paid.  Adams and others involved in the scheme advised each victim that they needed to return their prior pay using a cash application.  Adams and others told the victims that they would receive a higher salary amount from the military once they returned their prior pay.  If a service member followed these instructions, the members of this scheme would take the monies transferred and would never return any monies to the victim.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of the Army - Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Salvadoran national has pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States after having been previously removed following his 2022 conviction for Aggravated Sexual Battery with a Child Under 13.

Jose Antonio Del Cid, 54, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States after removal subsequent to being convicted of an aggravated felony. Del Cid was previously convicted of Aggravated Sexual Battery with a Child Under 13 in Fairfax, Va., in 2022.  He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two years and he was deported to El Salvador in 2023 upon completion of his sentence.

On Oct. 11, 2025, Del Cid was arrested in Grandview, Mo., by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations following an arrest for trespassing.

Under federal statutes, Del Cid is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000. 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.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement & Removal Operations.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips for role in a conspiracy to stage numerous armed robberies so that the purported victims of these crimes, who were illegal aliens in the United States, could use their status as crime victims to fraudulently obtain visas.

Jose Luis Morales Salgado, 37, residing in Kansas City, Mo., a citizen of Mexico, was charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court on Jan. 30, 2025. The criminal complaint, which was unsealed and made public following Salgado’s arrest and initial court appearance, charged Salgado with participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain immigration visas.  On Feb. 6, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Salgado and co-defendant Oscar Gutierrez on the same charges.

On March 24, 2026, Salgado pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently obtain immigration visas for aliens.  Salgado admitted that immigrants contacted Salgado to arrange for themselves to become “victims” of staged robberies so they could submit applications for U-Visas, which are granted to crime victims. These immigrants, who were either illegally present in the United States or in the United States legally through work visas, paid Salgado thousands of dollars to participate. In exchange, Salgado directed them to the location of a planned staged robbery. Salgado also admitted that he recruited individuals to pose as robbers during the staged robberies and provided directions to those individuals.

Salgado admitted that each robbery involved aliens who later told police they had car trouble, pulled over and got out of their vehicle to diagnose the car trouble. Soon after stopping, another vehicle would arrive and park next to, or in front of, the purported victim’s vehicle. The “robber”, wearing a medical mask over his face and brandishing a firearm, would strike the purported victims in the head or face, take their cash and typically fire two rounds into the purported victim’s vehicle.

Investigators with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department initially identified 11 incidents in which the reported robberies followed this pattern. These cases were linked to each other, based in part, on leads generated from the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN utilized ballistic imaging technology to compare cartridge case markings on the expended cartridges from each crime scene.  Detectives determined there was likely one firearm used in the commission of all the robberies. Detectives gathered information from city cameras and license plate readers to identify the vehicles used in the robberies, the affidavit says, which led them to Gutierrez.

Salgado instructed the aliens to falsely report to law enforcement officials how the robberies occurred and advised them how to make these false reports to bolster their applications for U-Visas.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act was designed to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute certain crimes while also protecting victims of crimes who are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. A foreign national is eligible to receive a U-Visa if they were the victim of qualifying criminal activity, suffered substantial physical or mental abuse because of having been a victim of the criminal activity, possessed information about the criminal activity, and was likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.

According to court documents, a source told investigators the number of purported victims involved in the scheme was well over 100. Court documents also indicate that investigators identified 11 robberies involving 33 purported victims that occurred as part of the conspiracy between Dec. 29, 2021, and July 13, 2024.  Of those 33 immigrants, 18 submitted U-Visa applications falsely claiming to be victims of violent crimes.

An undercover federal agent and a law enforcement source met with Salgado on Jan. 22, 2025, and recorded their meeting. The undercover agent planned to pay Salgado $4,000 for a robbery to be staged to fraudulently obtain a U-Visa. Salgado told the undercover agent he would “put on a grand show.” Once the plans were agreed upon, the undercover agent paid Salgado $500 with a promise to pay the balance later. The undercover agent met with Salgado again on Jan. 30, 2025, and Salgado was arrested.

Under federal statutes, Salgado is subject to a sentence of up to 5 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 Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City men have been found guilty of criminal contempt following a six-day bench trial.

Charles Floyd Anderson, 81, and his attorney Robert Pete Smith, 80, were found guilty of contempt by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. The Court found Anderson and Smith willfully violated a court order to provide truthful, accurate and complete financial disclosures in an underlying civil action. The civil action was brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the State of Missouri alleging that consumers paid over $100 million in response to deceptive sweepstakes and prize mailers distributed by a family business enterprise built by Anderson, FTC v. Next-Gen, Inc. et al., No. 18-cv-00128-DGK (FTC Case).

Smith, a partner at McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan, P.C., represented Anderson and his businesses for over 25 years before the FTC Case. As part of the FTC case, Anderson was ordered to complete certain individual and corporate financial disclosures. The entities, accounts and transactions that supported the criminal contempt proceeding involved Anderson and Smith acting as business partners or close friends, reaching far outside of the typical attorney-client relationship. The criminal contempt case focused on the apparent effort undertaken by Smith to conceal that affiliation and wash himself and his business relationship with Anderson from the FTC disclosures. Anderson, as a lay person, had a duty to provide truthful, accurate and complete information to the FTC.

Following the bench trial, the Court found, “Attorney Smith and Anderson willfully violated both the letter and the spirit of the financial disclosure required by the district court in the FTC Case. . . . Orders duly entered by a district court must be followed and respected. Persons or parties who do not do so, and who instead opt for willful deceptive gamesmanship or otherwise act in bad faith in complying with a district court’s orders are subject to criminal sanction.” The Court further found that “Defendants’ conduct illustrates a picture of deception and sanitization of particular relationships and assets from the FTC’s view.” The Court ultimately adjudged Anderson and Smith guilty of criminal contempt as charged.  The Court’s order is attached. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick D. Daly and Matthew N. Sparks and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Cameron, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to bank fraud.

Tracy L. Kellerstrass, 51, former escrow officer for Cameron Title Company, waived her right to grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud.

According to court documents, Kellerstrass was employed by Cameron Title Company from 2018 to February 2024. In her capacity as an escrow officer, Kellerstrass had access to Cameron Title’s bank accounts and ledgers and was only authorized to use the accounts for business purposes. However, as part of a scheme and artifice to defraud, Kellerstrass forged the signature of another employee on company checks and presented them for payment.

By pleading guilty today Kellerstrass admitted that she presented forged checks drawn on Cameron Title’s bank account and deposited them into her personal account.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kellerstrass will be subject to a forfeiture money judgment and restitution in the amount of $460,415.84.

Under federal statutes, Kellerstrass is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on the bank fraud charge to which she has pleaded guilty. 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. The sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 22, 2026.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Brown and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Over the past week, more than 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers worked together with prosecutors to arrest and charge 101 individuals in federal investigations for violent crimes.

Today, the Justice Department announced the results of “Operation Spring Cleaning”, a multi-agency law enforcement operation conducted March 17th – 19th that identified, apprehended, and initiated prosecution against some of the most violent offenders in the Springfield and Joplin metropolitan areas, including Greene, Jasper, and Christian Counties. Its mission was straightforward: use existing Missouri and Midwest-based law enforcement resources in a coordinated way to serve warrants across partner agencies, arrest individuals wanted for serious crimes and identify additional evidence that supports successful prosecution.

This effort resulted in 85 federal indictments charging 101 defendants with a variety of offenses including firearms, narcotics, and sex offenses. During the investigations into these matters, law enforcement seized a total of 141 firearms, 11.21 pounds of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of fentanyl, 204.89 pounds of marijuana, 88.14 pounds of methamphetamine, and 2.06 pounds of psilocyn.  Additionally, 10 arrests on state warrants were executed including an arrest for a suspect charged with murder in the first degree and a CODIS hit for an unsolved rape investigation.

“Operation Spring Cleaning is an example of the extraordinary impact that law enforcement, at all levels of government, can have when we combine our resources and focus collectively on aggressively combatting violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price.

U.S. Attorney Price thanked the partner agencies in this coordinated effort including:

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• Carthage Police Department
• Christian County Sheriff’s Office
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
• Greene County Sheriff’s Office
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
• Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
• Joplin Police Department
• Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)
• Newton County Sheriff’s Office
• Nixa Police Department
• Ozark Police Department
• Springfield Police Department
• United States Marshals Service (USMS)

Price continued, “Operation Spring Cleaning serves as a double-down on our ongoing collaboration in Southwest Missouri and a reminder that law enforcement officers, not violent criminals, control the streets of Springfield, Joplin, and all surrounding areas. We are playing offense now, and will remain on offense to confront crime and engage violent criminals at the time and place of our choosing.”

Operation Spring Cleaning was conducted by the Violent Crime Abatement Team (VCAT), a coalition of Missouri-based federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to respond to violence and gun crimes. The goal of this team is to bring significant, coordinated resources to address violent crime in the Southwest Missouri area, including federal prosecution.

Please note that a video of the press conference, B-roll of the operation, and photos will be available after the event on DVIDS, which is free to join but requires an account. If interested, please use the link to register an account. https://www.dvidshub.net/member/ registration.

Attached is a breakdown of the operation.

Operation Take Back America

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

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged by criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City for attempting to produce child pornography while being required to register as a sex offender.

Addison Jones, 28, was charged with attempted production of child pornography and an additional charge for committing the crime while being required to register as a sex offender.

An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Jones communicated over the internet with a 10-year-old boy to attempt to obtain depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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 Teresa A. Moore. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Childhood

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Belton, Mo., man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 360 months’ imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons followed by 30 years of supervised release.

Steven Michael George, 45, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. George faced an enhanced range of punishment due to his prior Missouri state convictions for first-degree statutory sodomy, first-degree child molestation, and possession of child pornography.

Between approximately March 17, 2023, and July 12, 2023, George distributed images and videos of child pornography (also referred to as “child sexual abuse material” or “CSAM”) over the Internet through a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. Investigators also located CSAM images and videos on several devices possessed by George. In addition to his sentence, George was ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in those CSAM images and videos.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – New York Ny., man was found guilty by a federal trial jury for fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy charges.

Ahmaad Jarvis, 39, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, unlawful use of a communications device, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

In October of 2023, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) were conducting a Title-III wiretap investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted telephone calls between Jarvis and a co-conspirator wherein Jarvis discussed traveling to Los Angeles, Ca., to obtain narcotics and bring them to Springfield, Mo., for distribution.

On Oct. 20, 2023, investigators conducted a traffic stop on Jarvis as he traveled from the Kansas City area, to Springfield, Mo. Jarvis’ vehicle was searched, and inside the vehicle investigators located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 400 grams of fentanyl. Jarvis was the final remaining defendant after 13 co-defendants pleaded guilty.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for approximately 30 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Under federal statutes, Jarvis is subject to a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Beaver and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department, the Branson, Missouri, Police Department, the Taney County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for of tax evasion.

Michael Robert Jett, 60, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Douglas Harpool to 23 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of post-release supervision, and ordered to pay $361,078.81 in restitution for tax evasion against the United States.

“Those who violate our tax laws cause honest taxpayers to lose faith that the system is fair,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden. “For that reason, IRS-CI partners with the US Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute those who willfully choose tax evasion.  Falsifying documents to avoid paying taxes is stealing, and offenders must be held accountable.”

“This time of year is a good reminder to all taxpayers of the consequences of not timely and accurately paying your fair share,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. “You will be prosecuted and face the loss of your freedom if you do not.”

Jett, a salesperson for a time share company, falsely claimed that he was exempt from paying federal or state income taxes.  As a result, Jett’s employer did not withhold any money from his wages.  Jett, despite having no taxes withheld from his salary, then either refused to pay his yearly income taxes or submitted false tax return documents to evade any payment of his personal income taxes.  Over the period of six years, between 2017 and 2022, Jett failed and willfully evaded his financial responsibility to pay his yearly income taxes to both the United States and the State of Missouri.  Jett was ordered to pay $330,649.43 to the United States Government, and an additional $30,429.38 to the State of Missouri, for a total restitution amount of $361,078.81.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing a stolen Taurus 9mm handgun.

Zyair J. Taylor, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to sixty-six months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On May 21, 2025, officers conducted surveillance of a residence in the 400 block of Lawn Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., to arrest Taylor for his outstanding warrants.  When Taylor exited the residence and saw officers, he fled on foot.  During the foot chase, Taylor retrieved from his jacket a black handgun with a large drum magazine.  Despite commands from officers to drop the gun, Taylor threw the handgun over his head as he continued to run.  Thereafter, Taylor was physically combative with officers as they attempted to place him under arrest.  Following arrest, officers retrieved the handgun, a Taurus, Model G3c 9mm handgun that was loaded with one round in the chamber and 49 rounds in the drum magazine.  The firearm had been reported stolen in 2023 from Columbia, Mo.

Taylor, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of five prior felony offenses before yesterday’s hearing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Texas County, Mo., man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information.  The indictment was returned by a Springfield grand jury under seal and was made public today after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant.

Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment. The indictment goes on state that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.

According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it.  The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland.  The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.

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.

If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Mo., men were sentenced in federal court for their role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Donnique H. Kelley, also known as “Banks,” 36, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 200 months in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Eugene Thomas, also known as “Texas,” 55, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 135 months in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents, Kelley, Thomas, and others sold fentanyl pills, fluor-fentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), cocaine, and methamphetamine to law enforcement between Oct. 19, 2022, and Dec. 13, 2023. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases from Thomas, Kelley, and others.

In addition, on Sept. 12, 2023, following a car stop on East 63rd Street, Kansas City, Mo., a co-conspirator and source of supply of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the conspiracy was found in possession of 4.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.02 kilograms of marijuana, and $14,382.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh.  It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been charged by criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Marceil Wortham, 38, appeared in federal court on the two-count complaint earlier today.

According to court documents, on March 10, 2026, law enforcement served a federal search warrant at Wortham’s residence and seized 24 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Investigators also seized seven firearms, four of them with no make, model, or serial number listed on the weapons.

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 Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Jackson County Drug Task Force, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Police Department, and Kansas City Mo Police Department.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in an assault against a member of a rival motorcycle club.

Mark A. Crump, also known as “Navajo,” 55, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 80 months in federal prison without parole for assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering.

On July 20, 2023, Crump, Jarrid A. Hammer, and Mark A. Cottman assaulted a lone rival motorcycle gang member at a bar & grill in North Kansas City, Mo.  Hammer told the victim that they were there to shut the victim’s club down, then flipped a table over knocking the victim to the ground.  Once on the ground, Hammer, Crump and Cottman began stomping, kicking and punching the victim.  The victim later told law enforcement that those who assaulted him were wearing steel-toed boots.  Crump, Hammer and Cottman fled the bar & grill before any law enforcement arrived. The victim was later transported by ambulance to a local hospital, suffering from a head contusion (bruise on the brain), rib fracture, hemothorax (accumulation of blood in the area between the chest wall and lungs), a left pulmonary contusion (bruising of the lung), pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and a traumatic brain injury.

Hammer pleaded guilty to the assault on June 18, 2025, and Cottman pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2025.  Both are awaiting sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Gang pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays for his involvement in a series of armed assaults against rival motorcycle club members.

James W. Prettyman, also known as “Rugby,” 44, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty today to one count of attempt to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Sept. 3, 2022, Prettyman and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club travelled to Topeka, Ks., to carry out a revenge attack against another rival motorcycle gang.  The plan was to “catch a stray” and “smash on sight” any rival member they saw. The Pagan’s were aware that the rival motorcycle gang was having an event in Topeka that day, and the plan was to use either an axe handle or a gun on one of the rival gang members.  After arriving in Topeka, a rival member was spotted in a hotel parking lot.  As a member of the Pagan’s prepared to shoot the rival, a disagreement occurred among members, and the group returned to the Kansas City area.

On Sept.17, 2022, Prettyman and other members of the Pagan’s and their support club chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo.  Various members of the Pagan’s and the support club were armed with firearms and at least one axe handle.  Prettyman and the others confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks and back of his leg.

Under federal statutes, Prettyman is subject to a sentence of not less than five years and up to 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 Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Homeland Security Task Force

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a scheme that resulted in a $148,000 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Jason Roath, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 60 months’ imprisonment based upon his guilty plea to theft of government money relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain and spend a COVID loan guaranteed by the SBA under the CARES Act.

According to court documents, a fraudulent application for an EIDL was submitted using the name and identifiers of a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer.  All information on the loan application was false – the name, address, business, number of employees, and revenue. The application directed the loan to be deposited in Roath’s bank account.

On Aug. 5, 2020, the $148,000 loan was deposited into Roath’s account. That same day, Roath withdrew $500 in cash from an ATM and transferred $2,500 to his debit cards.  Two days later, on Aug. 7, 2020, Roath used the EIDL proceeds to rent a room and gamble at the Ameristar Casino.  He also bought fast food, paid past due utility bills, and put money on debit cards.  On Aug. 9, 2020, Roath’s bank froze the account due to his spending being inconsistent with business spending.

Roath had 6 prior felony convictions and 17 prior misdemeanor convictions for theft, bad checks, and forgery dating back to 1994.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigation Service and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – A former Mexico, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for using a 9-year-old victim to produce child pornography.

Emrah Eymez, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 300 months and a lifetime of supervised release based upon his guilty plea to attempted production of child pornography where he used a child under the age of 12 to produce child pornography from March 11 through April 2, 2024.

According to court documents, the mother of the 9-year-old victim contacted law enforcement to report the extensive cell phone communication between Eymez and her daughter. The communication involved the exchange of nude images and a sexually explicit video the child sent to Eymez.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by The Boone County, Mo Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Childhood

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., resident, was sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm.

Joseph Bradley Garrison, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 46 months imprisonment for his illegal possession of a firearm.  Judge Bough also ordered the sentence to run consecutively with his prior state conviction in Lawrence County, Mo., case number 12LW-CR01381, for second degree burglary, stealing, and tampering with a motor vehicle.

On June 30, 2023, Springfield, Mo., police officers conducted a traffic stop of Garrison, as he was walking in the street despite a sidewalk being present.  As they contacted Garrison, he was asked if he had anything illegal or dangerous on him. Garrison admitted he had a firearm on his person, but that the firearm did not work.  Officers conducted a search of Garrison and found a firearm and a small improvised explosive device.  Upon review, the explosive device was safety denotated by the Springfield, Mo,, Fire Marshal.  Law enforcement then evaluated the firearm found on Garrison’s person and it was determined that the firearm could readily be repaired and returned to a functional status.  Officers confirmed Garrison was a convicted felon, with two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as 11 other felony offenses for various crimes that include first degree assault, burglary, resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and forgery.  Any of these felony convictions made Garrison a prohibited person from possessing either the firearm or the improvised explosive device.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who shot at another man with a firearm was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing methamphetamine.

Clifford E. Porter, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 11, 2025, Porter pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.

On July 1, 2025, a Kansas City, Mo. Police Department detective observed a male riding a bicycle in the roadway on Spruce Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.  The detective observed the male arguing with a group of approximately five people. The detective observed Porter run after the male, remove a firearm from his waistband, and fire a single round in the direction of the male on the bicycle.

The detective immediately notified uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, who contacted Porter within seconds of the shooting.  Porter refused verbal commands by the officers to raise his hands in the air and lie on the ground.  Officers eventually arrested Porter and searched him incident to arrest.

Porter had a small bag containing approximately 2.73 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket.  Officers located a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the sidewalk, just to the south of where Porter was arrested.  The firearm was loaded with a live round of ammunition in the chamber and additional live ammunition in the magazine.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.  Porter has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and prior felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary in the first degree, and robbery in the second degree.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A Honduran national was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.

Jhader Hernandez-Padilla, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 24 months in prison without parole for being an alien in possession of a firearm and for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.  Hernandez-Padilla pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025.

On May 13, 2025, Hernandez-Padilla was pulled over by Kansas City Police Department Officers for a traffic infraction.  When officers contacted Hernandez-Padilla, he was unable to produce a driver’s license and instead handed officers a Honduran passport. Officers asked Hernandez-Padilla if he had any weapons in his car, and he responded that he did not.  After officers obtained permission to search the car, they discovered that Hernandez-Padilla had a loaded 9mm Century Arms Canik, Model TP9SA, between the driver’s seat and center console. Officers also located methamphetamine, suspected black-tar heroin, a digital scale, and unused plastic baggies, all of which are indicative of drug distribution.  During a search incident to Hernandez-Padilla’s arrest, officers discovered more methamphetamine in his wallet.  The defendant later admitted that he was in the country illegally and had been deported in 2019.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Operation Take Back America

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