Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Belton, Mo., man pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and cyberstalking of a minor. 

Carter Anderson, 32, was charged by an indictment in December 2025 for Anderson’s criminal conduct occurring between October 2021 through January 2025. In his guilty plea, Anderson admitted that he engaged in a course of conduct in which he obtained sexually explicit images and videos of three minor victims by various means, including through a pattern of threats over the internet. Anderson admitted that he met one of his minor victims through the Snapchat messaging application.  Anderson admitted that, after obtaining the minor victim’s sexually explicit images and videos, he threatened to publicly release them if the minor victim did not send him additional and increasingly graphic sexually explicit images and videos.

Under federal statutes, the defendant is subject to a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 70 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 David Luna.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Honduran national pleaded guilty before Federal Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to the sole count of the indictment charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported. 

Fredy Rolando Rivera-Gonzalez, 31, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, who had been previously convicted of another felony offense. On July 3, 2026, Rivera-Gonzalez was arrested after he was contacted by Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies during a traffic stop. During the contact, Rivera-Gonzalez admitted that he had illegally reentered the United States in August of 2024, near Brownsville or McAllen, Texas, after he had been previously deported. On July 3, 2026, Rivera-Gonzalez was found voluntarily in the United States after being previously deported on Nov. 6, 2019, from Huntsville, Texas. 

Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to two years 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. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and the Pulaski County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carthage, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his illegal possession of a firearm.

Skylar Wyrick, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.  This defendant was charged as a part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement across Southwest Missouri.

Wyrick pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment that charged him with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Oct. 3, 2025, Wyrick was contacted by law enforcement during a traffic stop for failing to display a front license plate. During that contact, Carthage Police Officers found that Wyrick had drug paraphernalia, a gun magazine and ammunition on his person.  Officers then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. During that search, officers found additional drug paraphernalia, substances that were recognized as illegal narcotics, and a KelTec, P-32, .32 auto caliber firearm. Wyrick has prior felony convictions for robbery in the 2nd degree and tampering with a motor vehicle in the 1st degree.  Both convictions carried with them sentences that exceeded one year of imprisonment, making Wyrick a person who was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Under federal statutes, Wyrick is subject to sentences of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000 for count one, felon in possession of a firearm. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for robbing 14 convenience stores and attempting to rob another convenience store, all at gunpoint.

Marquise L. North, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 28 years in federal prison without parole.

On March 25, 2026, North pleaded guilty to 14 counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

North brandished a firearm each time he entered 15 convenience stores to steal money between July 26, and Sept. 21, 2024.  Of those 15 robberies, North pointed the firearm at 21 separate victims while demanding money.

North’s last robbery of the spree was on Sept. 21, 2024. He took the cash drawer from the business, which contained an active cash tracker. Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officers located North’s vehicle and attempted to stop him by activating their emergency lights and sirens. North refused to stop, and officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit. North’s vehicle eventually stopped after officers deployed stop sticks, however, North exited the driver’s door and ran on foot. Officers arrested North after a brief foot chase.

Two days later, investigators responded to the area of the pursuit to attempt to locate items North threw from his vehicle. Investigators discovered the firearm North used during the robberies was recovered by the University of Missouri – Kansas City Police Department the previous day. A citizen discovered the firearm while walking his dogs and turned it in to the police.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Raytown, Missouri Police Department, 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 Guatemalan national has pleaded guilty to an immigration violation in the Western District of Missouri.

Guatemalan national Juan Carlos Paxtor-Chay, 42, pleaded guilty to transporting illegal aliens within the United States. The plea was entered today before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough.

On Jan. 9, 2026, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling along Interstate 70 near Boonville, Mo. The driver, Paxtor-Chay, was transporting six passengers in the vehicle.  All seven occupants were subsequently determined to be illegal aliens unlawfully present in the United States. 

Paxtor-Chay admitted that he was transporting the passengers from Los Angeles to Canton, Ohio where they were to work, and that he expected to be paid upon arrival.  He further acknowledged that he had transported illegal aliens in this manner on about seven prior occasions.

Under federal statutes, Paxtor-Chay is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 11, 2027.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV.  It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations  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 has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. 

Marcos L. Fernandez, 39, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 87 months in federal prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He also was sentenced to a concurrent 36-month term of imprisonment for being a violent felon in possession of body armor. 

On May 17, 2025, North Kansas City Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Fernandez was a passenger. During the stop, officers saw a firearm on the driver‑side floorboard and removed both occupants. Fernandez, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing firearms. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun and a loaded drum‑style pistol magazine. DNA analysis later confirmed Fernandez’s DNA on the firearm.

Fernandez was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of his arrest, he was also wearing body armor, which he is federally prohibited from possessing due to multiple prior robbery and armed criminal action convictions.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick and investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced today for the crimes of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in federal court for his role in a scheme that involved submitting false documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue in an effort to obtain mechanics liens and titles for vehicles that had previously been stolen.

Dennis Arthur Cleveland, 76, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough on one count of mail fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of money laundering.  Cleveland received a sentence of 120 months for the mail fraud and money laundering counts that will run concurrently, an additional 24 months for aggravated identity theft that will run consecutively to the other counts, and an additional nine months’ incarceration for his violations of his post release supervision from a prior conviction for Clean Air Act offenses in 2023. Overall, Cleveland was sentenced to a total of 153 months incarceration, to be followed by three years of post-release supervision, payment of a $300 special assessment, payment of a restitution in the amount of $37,049 to the victims, a full order of forfeiture in the amount of $37,049, and the payment of $400,000 in fines assessed by the court against the defendant. 

“Government records and title systems exist to establish legitimate ownership, not to provide an easy way for criminals to turn stolen vehicles into profit,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “The defendant didn’t simply commit a harmless paperwork offense; he manipulated records for personal greed. Today’s sentence makes it clear that those who try to defraud government processes at any level in the Western District of Missouri, will be held accountable and aggressively prosecuted.”

Cleveland, as the owner of Affordable Towing, directed his employees, who he knew were submitting fraudulent documents, to send those documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue. The purpose of the documents was to obtain substitute or replacement mechanics liens and vehicle titles that would allow Cleveland to sell the vehicles. In each instance, the documents submitted by Cleveland and his employees claimed to have received permission from the vehicle’s owner.  Upon reviewing the documents, it was discovered that none of the listed vehicle owners gave Cleveland or Affordable Towing permission to seize or sell their vehicle.  Further, in all these documents, a signature in the name of the vehicle’s owner was provided and was confirmed to be a forgery.  In those instances that Cleveland obtained a replacement lien or title, he would sell the vehicle at a used car dealership.  In those instances that Cleveland failed to receive a replacement title or mechanics lien, he would send the vehicle to a local scrapyard. Under either circumstance, Cleveland took all the proceeds from sale or scrapping of a vehicle for himself, totaling several million dollars. Each of the vehicles involved in this scheme were confirmed to have been reported stolen and neither Cleveland nor Affordable Towing had permission to possess, sell, or scrap any of these vehicles.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Missouri Department of Revenue, Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the United States Post Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A lawful permanent resident from Cuba was arrested today after being charged with unlawful voting by an alien. 

Andre’s Garcia, 64, was charged with two counts of illegally voting in federal elections in November 2022 and November 2024. 

Garcia was born in Cuba to two Cuban citizens and immigrated to the United States during his childhood. In 2009, he applied for and was granted lawful permanent residency. Prior to even becoming a lawful permanent resident, Garcia registered to vote in Cass County, Mo. in 2004. Garcia has voted regularly for the last 20 years in at least 15 elections, including at least 13 federal elections. Lawful permanent residents are not allowed to vote in federal elections and are not allowed to vote in state or local elections in Missouri. Garcia knew he was not a United States citizen but nevertheless claimed to be one when registering to vote in 2004 and again in 2013. 

“When an individual who is not legally permitted to vote casts a ballot, it undermines the public’s confidence in our elections,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Free and fair elections depend on the integrity of our voting process and compliance with the law. Our office will aggressively enforce federal election laws and hold accountable anyone who interferes with the integrity of the electoral process.”

“Election integrity is nonnegotiable. Individuals who knowingly violate federal voting laws undermine public trust in the democratic process and will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Acting Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “HSI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and stop those who illegally interfere with the integrity of our elections.”

The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether the defendants are guilty or not. 

Under federal statutes, Garcia is subject to a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 on each charge. 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 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office – Homeland Security Investigations. 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan national illegally residing in the Taney County, Missouri area, was sentenced today in federal court for one count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Immigrant, and Illegal Entry into the United States.

Edilberto Gonzalez-Barrera, 40, was sentenced today before District Court Judge Douglas Harpool for the offense of an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm and illegally entering the United States.  Gonzalez-Barrera was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and one year of post release supervision, and will be deported to his native country of Guatemala immediately upon his release from prison. 

On March 29, 2026, officers with the Branson, Missouri Police Department responded to Cox Hospital in Branson, in response to a male who had come into the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.  Officers learned that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera, an individual who illegally entered the United States, had possessed a firearm, and as he was cleaning the firearm, it accidentally discharged, shooting the lower end of one of his fingers off.  Upon determining that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement.  Agents responded and determined that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally in the United States, as he was a citizen of Guatemala, without permission to enter or remain within 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, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Branson, 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. – Roy Dean Faux, 53, of Rockaway Beach, Mo., was sentenced in federal court, for receiving and distributing child pornography.

Faux was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. 

According to court documents, Faux, a prior convicted sex offender, who pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2025, used cellular devices to receive files of child pornography. Law enforcement’s investigation discovered Faux was utilizing social media applications to solicit the files of child pornography from other users.

Faux, who was already required to register as a sex offender, will continue to 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 Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Taney County 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."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four individuals have been charged in an eight‑count federal indictment for their roles in a multistate bank-fraud and money-laundering scheme involving stolen and altered checks issued by a multinational corporation.

Cory L. Sims, Jr., of Bridgeport, Conn.; Dondre O. Daniels, of Bridgeport and Tampa, Fla.; Christian M. Hill, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Makhia L. Duncan, of Des Moines, Iowa, were charged in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment was unsealed following Hill’s initial court appearance.  Daniels and Duncan were subsequently taken into custody.  Sims remains at large.

According to the indictment, the defendants unlawfully obtained checks issued by the corporation to pay its vendors. The indictment alleges that the defendants altered those checks by removing the names of the intended payees and replacing them with their own names or with the name of an identity‑theft victim. The altered checks then were deposited into accounts controlled by the defendants, who subsequently withdrew or transferred the unlawfully obtained funds.

The indictment alleges that Sims and Daniels deposited multiple altered checks into bank accounts opened either in Sims’ name or in the name of an identity‑theft victim. Daniels allegedly made ATM withdrawals in several cities using bank cards linked to those accounts. According to the indictment, Sims and Daniels then laundered the fraud proceeds through cash withdrawals, transfers, payments to Daniels’s business, and electronic transactions.

Hill is alleged to have obtained and deposited an altered check into his personal account, then withdrawn and laundered more than $45,000 in fraud proceeds. Duncan is alleged to have deposited a separate altered check into his personal account, later withdrawing and laundering more than $34,000 through subsequent transactions.

The indictment charges Sims with conspiracy to commit money laundering; Daniels with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft; Hill with bank fraud and two counts of money laundering; and Duncan with bank fraud and one count of money laundering. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of the offenses.

Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison. Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two‑year consecutive sentence.

The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, 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 James Kirkpatrick. It has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man has pleaded guilty to a firearms violation. 

Edward L. Vann, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, Vann was found in possession of two semi-automatic handguns while parked outside a business on Independence Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., during the evening of Nov. 2, 2025. Both firearms were loaded, and one contained a machinegun conversion device that rendered it capable of fully automatic fire.

Under federal statutes, Vann is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the 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 David Wagner and James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his illegal possession of a firearm.

Lonnie B. Dean, 52, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm.  This defendant was charged as a part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement across southwest Missouri.

Dean pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment that charged him with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Dec. 24, 2025, Dean was contacted by law enforcement during a traffic stop. During that contact, Springfield Police Officers note that Dean had a current warrant for his arrest. As Dean was taken into custody, officers found a Glock Model 43x, 9mm firearm.  The firearm was found in Dean’s waistline. Officers noted that the firearm was loaded with ammunition and had a round of ammunition chambered in the weapon. Dean has prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, theft of a motor vehicle, theft, and a prior illegal possession of a firearm.

Under federal statutes, Dean is subject to sentences of up to 15 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.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man has pleaded guilty to a firearms violation.

Tanner N. Breece, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to information presented in court, on March 25, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officers were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle crash at I-435 and Winner Road in Jackson County, Missouri. The driver (Breece) and a female passenger had fled before police arrived.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located a Springfield Armory, Model Prodigy, 9mm Luger pistol, serial number NMH53493, loaded with 13 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.

Law enforcement officials swabbed the Springfield Armory pistol for genetic material and DNA comparative analysis tended to show that Breece’s DNA was present on the firearm. Breece had a 2019 conviction for felony stealing in the Circuit Court of Ray County, Missouri.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV.  It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty before Federal Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to the sole count of the indictment charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported with a prior subsequent felony conviction. 

Tomas Paxtor-Paxtor, 29, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, who had been convicted of another felony offense. On March 8, 2026, Paxtor was contacted by officers with the Missouri Department of Conservation. During the contact, Paxtor admitted that he had illegally reentered the United States on an unknown day in 2025, after he had been previously deported. Paxtor also admitted that he was illegally present in the United States. On Aug. 26, 2026, Paxtor was found voluntarily in the United States after being previously deported on Dec. 9, 2024.  Paxtor  was previously convicted of a felony offense in Newton County Circuit Court for driving while intoxicated that resulted in serious physical injury.

Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to ten years 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Operation Take Back America

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

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Callaway County, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court for producing and possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). 

Jimmy Joe Culbertson, 68, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Culbertson is a retired police sergeant, who served for more than 24 years.

Through his plea, Culbertson admits to photographing his abuse of two minor children. He also admits to possessing more than 150 CSAM files. Law enforcement located software intended to hide his online activity as well as permanently delete digital evidence. 

Under federal statutes, Culbertson is subject to a sentence of up to 70 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 Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Taskforce. 

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., man was sentenced in federal court today for his illegal possession of a firearm.

Douglas Dockery, Jr., 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one year imprisonment to be followed by three years of post-conviction supervision for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Dockery was charged as a part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri and law enforcement across southwest Missouri.

On Jan. 3, 2026, Dockery was contacted by Ozark, Mo. police officers during an investigation into a recent theft at a local Walmart. During that contact, Dockery admitted to law enforcement there was a .45 caliber firearm within his vehicle. After consenting to a search, law enforcement located a Tisas .45 caliber M1911-A1 firearm, matching the description he had provided to officers. During the search, officers found a .22 caliber semiautomatic firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and marijuana. Dockery was sentenced within a guideline range sentence of 12 months’ and one day imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of post-release supervision, and payment of a $100 Special Assessment as required by law.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported. 

Cecilio Paz-Serafin, 33, pleaded guilty before Federal Magistrate Judge David P. Rush, to the sole count of an indictment charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. During a traffic stop by Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s deputies on Aug. 26, 2026, Paz-Serafin was found voluntarily in the United States after he was deported in 2024. 

Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to two years 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.

Operation Take Back America

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A New York man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a large-scale fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy responsible for distributing more than 47 pounds of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.

Ahmaad Jarvis, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 24 years and three months in federal prison without parole, followed by five years of supervised release. On March 18, 2026, following a two-day trial, a jury convicted Jarvis of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, unlawful use of a communications device, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

In October of 2023, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a wiretap investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization. As part of that investigation, law enforcement intercepted telephone calls where Jarvis discussed traveling to Los Angeles to obtain narcotics and bring them to Springfield, Mo., for distribution. On Oct. 20, 2023, during a traffic stop of Jarvis, investigators seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 400 grams of fentanyl.

Jarvis is among 13 defendants who were charged in this case and is the 8th defendant to be sentenced. The remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver and Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, 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.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Vietnamese national was charged for his role in defrauding a victim out of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency in a wire fraud “pig butchering” scam. 

Trung Nguyen Van, 37, was charged in a Western District of Missouri two-count criminal complaint with money laundering that was unsealed following his initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles yesterday. 

Pig butchering is a highly lucrative billion-dollar industry that has victimized millions of Americans. The scam involves fraudsters gaining the trust of victims, often through fictitious romantic relationships, and duping them into making investments into fake cryptocurrency projects. These schemes typically begin with a victim meeting someone on an online dating website. Alternatively, a victim may receive a random unsolicited message on social media, via text, or through a messaging application, with the conversation eventually appearing to turn romantic. The victim is then convinced to transfer money to an alleged cryptocurrency investment opportunity recommended by the scammer. The scammer highlights seemingly impressive monetary gains from initial investments and encourages the victim to invest increasingly larger amounts, ultimately resulting in financial ruin to the victim.

“Pig butchering schemes are an increasingly prevalent and sophisticated form of fraud that have caused billions of dollars in losses to victims around the world,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “We are pleased to have worked alongside our law enforcement partners in the Western District of Missouri, as well as multiple jurisdictions to bring this case forward. Fraudsters should know that we will use every available resource to pursue those who target innocent victims.”

“The FBI, working closely with our law enforcement and private-sector partners, uncovered and disrupted this alleged scheme, preventing additional victims from being defrauded of their hard-earned money,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. “This case demonstrates the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting the American public and holding fraudsters accountable, regardless of where they operate or where their crimes are committed.”

As alleged in the unsealed affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, between June and August of 2024, Victim #1 transferred approximately $16,000,000 worth of cryptocurrency, believing they were making an investment in a cryptocurrency investment platform called “Triangle.” One such transfer, taking place on Aug. 7, 2024, directly traceable to Van’s cryptocurrency wallet, was for over $569,000 in cryptocurrency. On Aug. 9, 2024, Van’s cryptocurrency wallet received six transfers totaling approximately $569,569 in cryptocurrency, traceable to Victim #1. Immediately following the receipt of the funds, Van proceeded to transfer approximately $567,999 worth of cryptocurrency in four transactions to a private, un-hosted cryptocurrency wallet off the centralized blockchain network. 

From Feb. 9, 2018, through Dec. 17, 2024, Van’s cryptocurrency wallets received approximately $53,275,939 in cryptocurrency assets from wire fraud schemes targeting United States citizens. The wallet transferred approximately $53,188,466 worth of the same cryptocurrency assets to other accounts off the centralized blockchain network.

In addition to Victim #1, numerous other United States-based victims reported combined losses in the millions to different pig butchering schemes, attributed to several suspicious wallets that then sent funds to Van’s cryptocurrency wallet. Each of the victims were instructed to transfer cryptocurrency to different websites, but each victim reported a similar story. In each of these schemes, victims were guided by an individual they met online to invest cryptocurrency in a specified “website” with a promise of high financial returns. Ultimately, each victim was never able to withdraw funds they invested and eventually discovered they had been defrauded.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey Q. McCarther and James Kirkpatrick.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On September 24, 2026, Lake Ethan Roberts, 26, entered a plea of guilty to  an indictment that charged him with one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices in violation of U.S. law.

On May 28, 2026, an initial complaint was filed against Roberts, alleging that he was a member of a group that called themselves the “Red Legs.”  The Red Legs group has been active since at least November 2023.  Red Legs members frequently communicated with each other using a Signal private chat group.  Signal is a private messaging application that emphasizes privacy and security through end-to-end encryption.  In their private Signal chat group, Red Legs members have engaged in discussions regarding the plans to engage in acts of violence directed towards government entities and property, particularly the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (“ICE”), the National Guard, and other opposing political groups. Some of Roberts’s communications to the group included the following messages:  “We need to plan decisive action against ice and dhs;” “What are the chances we could get away with using drones to drop incendiary’s [sic] to demolish key infrastructure;” “I like the idea of using drones carrying cocktails to demolish key structures…Frozen water areas [this is an apparent reference to ICE structures];” “After we build our ranks and adequately arm ourselves, we can look into escalation;” “If ice moves to kc, thoughts on an armed response.”  As part of their preparations for armed conflict with the federal government, Red Legs members also periodically trained by shooting firearms at a local firearm range.

According to the complaint, on May 14, 2026, Roberts and another Red Legs member met with an undercover law enforcement officer in Richmond, Mo.  Roberts had brought with him two devices that were wrapped in duct tape and had an apparent fuse.  Roberts referred to the devices as “alcohol shooters filled with black powder surrounded with steel BBs.” Roberts brought the devices to detonate them to test how they worked.  Roberts detonated both devices in a rock quarry area.  The FBI Laboratory Explosives Unit provided an opinion that the two devices constituted improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”). According to an explosive expert’s opinion, IEDs, also called homemade bombs, generally consist of an explosive main charge, method of initiation, and sometimes a container and/or enhancements. These devices were described as small liquor bottles containing the low explosive black powder with a cannon fuse being utilized as the method of initiation. Properly assembled, the described IEDs would be capable of causing property damage, injury, and/or death. Investigators conducted an inquiry of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Firearms Act Branch and determined that Roberts had not registered any destructive devices as required by the National Firearms Act of 1934.

Under federal statutes, Roberts is subject to a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for his charge of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. 

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, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Barnhart, Mo. man pleaded guilty to destroying property at a Telsa dealership in Kansas City, Mo. and to unlawfully possessing an unregistered destructive device.   

Kevin Harkins, 28, entered a guilty plea today in federal court to one count of malicious destruction of property related to arson and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. Harkins was initially charged by complaint on Sept. 12, 2025. According to court documents, on Feb. 13, 2025, at approximately 9:25 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri Police officers were dispatched in the vicinity of the Kansas City Tesla Center to investigate reports of the sounds of gunshots. At the same time, Kansas City Fire Department officials were also dispatched to the same location due to a reported fire. Police and Fire Department personnel discovered that a Telsa Cybertruck had sustained fire damage and had been shot with a firearm approximately nine times. 

Officers observed what appeared to be a flammable fluid on the vehicle, broken glass, a charred cloth, propane hand torch, and a cigarette lighter on the ground.  Officers also noticed that a nearby Tesla Model Y vehicle had approximately seven bullet holes located on the hood. Officers also discovered an unbroken suspected incendiary device with a cloth wick sticking out of the bottle and having an odor of suspected gasoline. 

Police recovered the unbroken suspected incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. Investigators also discovered that a second Telsa Cybertruck was damaged by a bullet that was an apparent ricochet from one of the rounds that was aimed at the first Cybertruck.

The Cybertruck that was damaged by fire had a sale price of $81,985. 

Under federal statutes, Harkins is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years maximum in federal prison without parole for his charge of malicious destruction of property related to arson. Harkins is subject to 10 years maximum in federal prison without parole for his charge of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. 

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, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Brackett, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Office-Kansas City, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of firearms.

Jayden Lamar Wright, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton to 84 months in federal prison without parole and three years of supervised release. Wright pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms as a user of a controlled substance on April 9, 2026. 

On Feb. 22, 2024, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a search of Wright’s vehicle after it was present at the scene of a double homicide and seized four semi-automatic pistols belonging to Wright. Wright admitted that he was an active user of marijuana. 

On March 8, 2024, ATF agents observed Wright carrying a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine as he entered a gun show in Springfield. An undercover ATF agent approached Wright and negotiated the purchase of the 9mm pistol and a magazine. Investigators later observed Wright purchasing a new semi-automatic pistol and extended magazine at the gun show. That firearm was seized during a traffic stop along with a third firearm that Wright had purchased at the gun show. 

A year later, police approached Wright in connection with another investigation. Wright fled but was detained shortly thereafter and was found to be carrying another firearm. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alfredo De La Rosa and Jessica Eatmon.  It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, M Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Alverez O. McCullough, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.  The court also ordered McCullough to forfeit to the government $15,000.

On May 21, 2026 McCullough pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. McCullough admitted he and other co-conspirators sold fentanyl to confidential sources between May 1, and Sept. 10, 2025. During the conspiracy, McCullough sold $15,000 worth of fentanyl to the confidential sources.

On Sept. 15, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant of McCullough’s residence. During the search warrant execution, investigators recovered United States currency, marijuana, five firearms, an AR-15 magazine loaded with 25 live rounds of ammunition, approximately 74 grams of fentanyl, approximately two grams of cocaine, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

McCullough admitted to investigators to selling, trading, and using drugs. McCullough admitted to selling fentanyl and possessing five firearms, which he described as four pistols and an AR-15.  McCullough told investigators he carried the firearms for protection and occasionally carried a firearm on drug deals.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Derrick Crumble, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 96 months in federal prison without parole and three years of supervised release. On Feb. 10, 2026, Crumble pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

On June 2, 2025, Jefferson City Police Department responded to a shooting call.  While at the scene officers observed Crumble walking with a backpack. Upon contact with Crumble, officers observed what appeared to be a firearm in the backpack. Officers searched the backpack and found a loaded 233-caliber pistol with a 60-round magazine in the firearm. When questioned, Crumble told officers that he found the firearm and planned to sell the firearm. Crumble has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan national illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison for violating immigration laws. 

On May 18, 2026, Jose Manuel Lopez-Maderos, 40, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported. This case marks his first federal conviction for illegal reentry. 

On Feb. 15, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Lopez-Maderos for driving without a license. After using fingerprints to confirm his identity, officers learned he had previously been deported. The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations who took custody of Lopez-Maderos.

Lopez-Maderos was first found in the United States on Aug. 23, 2009, after being arrested by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department for driving under the influence. It was determined that he had entered the United States illegally and he was given the opportunity to appear in immigration court to contest his removal. He failed to appear at that hearing and was ordered deported in absentia. He was eventually located and deported on Aug. 9, 2013. 

Lopez-Maderos was found in the United States again on May 13, 2017, when he was arrested in Johnson County, Kan. for driving under the influence. After his conviction, he was deported on Aug. 3, 2017. Lopez-Maderos was apprehended crossing the United States-Mexico border on June 23, 2018. He was convicted of illegally entering the country and deported. He was most recently deported after being apprehended again at the border on Feb. 21, 2019, and was deported for the fourth time. 

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two women from the Kansas City metropolitan area have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their receipt of fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Alyshia Smith, 33, of Kansas City, and Michelle Green, 36, of Grandview, Mo., were charged in separate sealed indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on August 26, 2026. These indictments were unsealed following the initial appearances of these individuals in court this week. This is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

Smith’s indictment alleges that she submitted a fraudulent application for a PPP loan and received a loan in the amount of $20,415, which was later forgiven by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Green’s indictment alleges that she submitted two fraudulent applications for PPP loans and received loans totaling $34,997. 

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

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Wagner. They were investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General. 

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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. – A Kansas City, Kan. man was found guilty by a federal judge of carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence on Sep. 14, 2026.

According to court records, Van Calvin Callahan, Jr., 46, assaulted an individual at a bus stop near East 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo. During the assault, Callahan stole a firearm from the victim. As an off-duty police officer from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department drove by, he observed the assault and attempted to intervene. Callahan then pointed the stolen firearm at the off-duty officer and moved towards the officer and his vehicle. The off-duty officer ran to safety as Callahan stole the vehicle.

Using a tracking device, the stolen vehicle was located in Kansas City, Kan., shortly after it was taken. When officers with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, Callahan fled. Ultimately, the stolen vehicle wrecked into a house, and Callahan was taken into custody after a foot chase.

Callahan was later charged in a five-count indictment. On Sept. 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty to stealing a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Callahan proceeded to a bench trial on the two remaining counts, carjacking and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and was found guilty of those offenses at the conclusion of the trial.

Callahan faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison for stealing a firearm and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle and a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison for carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Callahan also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a maximum possible sentence of life in federal prison for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The sentence for that crime must also run consecutive to any other sentence Callahan receives. These statutory penalties are provided for informational purposes only. The court will determine the final sentence based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 25, 2027.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh Ragner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Guy for the Western District of Missouri. The investigation was conducted by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

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

Amador Salinas-Rodriguez, 47, was found guilty of one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.

On April 7, 2026, the federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Salinas-Rodriguez with illegal reentry after removal. On April 24, 2026, officers with the Columbia Police Department arrested Salinas-Rodriguez on a federal arrest warrant issued with the indictment.

The evidence at trial established that on Aug. 1, 1999, Salinas-Rodriguez entered the United States at a border crossing at Nogales, Ariz., using another person’s border crossing card. Federal agents discovered Salinas-Rodriguez’s deception and removed him back to Mexico. After that removal, Salinas-Rodriguez was found in Columbia, Mo., in February 2025 and again in February 2026, without having obtained the consent of the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.

Under federal statutes, Salinas-Rodriguez 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 Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Komoroski and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by 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.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today a complete defense verdict in Richardson v. United States, a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the United States of America under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The lawsuit arose after a federal agent employed deadly force to stop an imminent threat posed by an armed, aggressive individual. 

On Sept. 10, 2026, judgment was entered in favor of the United States following a three-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark. The trial concluded on April 30, 2026. 

The incident occurred on Nov. 2, 2020, while two Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents were conducting surveillance at a Springfield apartment complex. After observing behavior indicative of drug transactions, the agents followed a rented U-Haul pickup truck from the apartment complex to a residential home.  The driver of the U-Haul met two other individuals at the home, including the decedent, Mr. Caleb Slay.

When one of the agents contacted Mr. Slay, Mr. Slay shouted an expletive at him while walking away.  Mr. Slay then returned to engage in a brief conversation with the agent, at which point it was learned that Mr. Slay was armed with a handgun.  Mr. Slay began fighting the agents upon their attempt to detain him for their safety. During the altercation, with one agent lying on his back underneath Mr. Slay, Slay reached his right hand toward his right rear waistband. One agent described the reach as a “quick gesture” to the waistband, where Slay’s hand paused. This indicated to the agent that Slay was attempting to “establish a grip on the gun.” The agent who discharged his firearm provided a warning prior to the shooting.

The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to prove the DEA agent used more force than was reasonably necessary. The court emphasized that use-of-force decisions must be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene making split-second judgments in tense, uncertain situations, rather than with the benefit of hindsight. 

Federal law enforcement agents place their lives on the line to enforce the laws of this nation.  As such, the Department of Justice is committed to defending justified uses of force. The court’s ruling reinforces that commitment.

This case is being defended by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wyatt R. Nelson and Christa B. Moss, Deputy Civil Chief, of the Western District of Missouri. The case was investigated by the Springfield Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Licking, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for the sexual exploitation of a minor as well as illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms.

John P. Weaver, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton to using a minor victim to produce child pornography and receiving and distributing child pornography from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, 2024. Weaver admitted to possessing more than 20 photos and videos depicting child pornography of the minor victim.

Weaver also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms on Feb. 29, 2024. Weaver admitted to possessing over 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and two Hi-Point pistols.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Weaver has two prior convictions for possessing a controlled substance as well as prior felony convictions for stealing a motor vehicle, burglary, stealing, and resisting arrest by creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person.

Under federal statutes, Weaver is subject to a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years maximum in federal prison without parole for his conviction for sexual exploitation of children. He is also facing a minimum of 10 years on his conviction for possession with intent to distribute and a minimum of five years for his conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, which must run consecutively to any other sentence. 

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pulaski County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, and the Texas County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Project Safe Childhood

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Howell County, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegally possessing 34 firearms and more than 150 grams of methamphetamine.

Gregory Porter, 57, of Mountain View, Mo., was charged in a four-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 8, 2026. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following Porter’s arrest and initial appearance in federal court.

The indictment alleges that Porter possessed 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possessed a Taurus pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Nov. 18, 2025. The indictment also alleges that Porter is a prior felon who unlawfully possessed an additional 33 firearms, including numerous pistols, rifles, and shotguns on Nov. 18 and 19, 2025. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

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 Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Howell County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo. man, who defrauded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by claiming false combat service and medals, pleaded guilty in federal court. 

James Lyon, 80, pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining $124,262 in disability‑related payments from the VA.

In connection with his guilty plea, Lyon admitted to repeatedly lying about his military service, including falsely claiming he earned prestigious combat decorations and submitting fraudulent documents to the VA. This plea is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. 

“Veterans’ benefits represent a sacred national promise that is rooted in our gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed and served our country,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “When individuals fraudulently obtain these benefits for their own personal gain, they undermine the integrity of these vital programs and divert resources from the veterans who earned them and need them most. That is unacceptable. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who seek to defraud programs intended to honor and support our nation’s veterans.” 

“Engaging in stolen valor—whether it involves stealing a veteran’s identity or making false claims about military service and awards—not only undermines the sacrifices made by those who have genuinely served but also dishonors the veterans who have rightfully earned their benefits,” said Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason, Department of Veterans Affairs. “At VA OIG, we are deeply committed to holding these individuals accountable and will work closely with our partners at the Department of Justice to ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Protecting the honor and benefits of veterans remains a top priority for us.”

Lyon admitted that although he refused Marine Corps training in 1966 as a conscientious objector, he falsely claimed he had completed three separate periods of Marine Corps service, including combat during the Vietnam War.  Lyon also admitted to falsely claiming high‑level combat awards, including the Bronze Star and Silver Star, despite never having served in combat.

Lyon further admitted to lying to the VA about being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  Lyon used fabricated medical records to seek disability compensation based on that false diagnosis.

By lying about his service, claiming unearned combat decorations, and submitting false medical paperwork, Lyon received more than $124,000 to which he was not entitled.

Under federal statutes, Lyon is subject to a sentence of up to ten 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 United States Attorney James Kirkpatrick and was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri has filed charges, secured pleas and sentences, and obtained civil judgments against 15 defendants, involving more than $60 million in actual or intended losses, with restitution nearing $800,000, as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Western District of Missouri was a key participant in this surge effort.  

From June 12 to September 1, 2026, SBA-OIG and federal prosecutors in the Fraud Division and across over 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, with assistance from various partners, obtained felony charges against nearly 80 fraud defendants responsible for approximately $100 million dollars in intended loss to the United States. These charges target a range of individuals who allegedly exploited COVID-era SBA loan programs at the height of the pandemic.  

Beyond newly charged defendants, as part of Operation No Doze, approximately 43 defendants pleaded guilty to SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching approximately $44 million in intended loss.  And approximately 40 defendants were sentenced for SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching nearly $100 million in intended loss. Together, this targeted surge resulted in fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants and involved approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.

Operation No Doze is a direct result of President Donald J. Trump’s creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division at the DOJ, the first new division in the DOJ in twenty years.

“For the past two and a half months, we have been engaged in an all-out effort to combat fraudsters and scammers who steal from hardworking American taxpayers. These fraudsters harm individuals, families, businesses, and communities that rely on these programs,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Today’s announcement exemplifies what it means to stand united on the front lines of this fight. Working alongside our partners as one team, we will bring criminals to justice and return funds to the hands of the people who need and deserve them.” 

“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,  we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”

“We are proud to stand with our federal and state partners in rooting out criminal activity of all kinds, especially defrauding the public,” said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers or from someone who depends on the programs those dollars are meant to support. In Missouri, we will continue working at every level to hold fraudsters accountable and protect those they seek to exploit.”

The following cases in the Western District of Missouri involved defendants who targeted government programs, attempting to divert funds intended to help Americans in need:

• Jaylen Bates, of Cass County Missouri. According to court records, while charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance, Bates fraudulently obtained $41,666 in SBA-PPP money, claiming to operate two businesses that did not exist.
   
• Jeffrey Christopher Benton, of Taney County, Missouri. Benton fraudulently obtained $125,308 in SBA-PPP money, according to court records. He claimed the money for a business that did not exist and spent funds on personal expenses.
   
• DeZhon Byrd, of Jackson County, Missouri. Byrd is alleged to have fraudulently obtained $20,832 in SBA-PPP money and claimed the funds for a business that did not exist. He spent the money on personal expenses.
   
• Brandon A. Garrett, of Jackson County, Missouri. Garrett fraudulently obtained $48,000 in SBA-PPP money, claiming the money was for two businesses that did not exist, court records show.
   
• D’Mario Gray, of Jackson County, Missouri. Gray allegedly set up a “foundation” in his name, with the sole purpose of obtaining $48,750 in SBA-PPP money by fraudulently claiming his foundation had been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The money went to personal expenses, including trips to Miami and Houston.
   
• Jamie William Gray, of Dade County, Missouri. Gray allegedly claimed to operate 19 separate businesses, including businesses focused on the pet industry. In total, Gray sought to fraudulently obtain $55,931.875.00 in SBA-PPP funds by filing 29 PPP and EIDL loans on the 19 businesses claiming that they were in operation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In every instance but one, none of the businesses claimed to be owned by Mr. Gray were in operation or existed. Gray effectively stole this company’s identity. Gray received $820,000 in SBA-PPP money because of the fraudulent activity. 
   
• Matthew and Shasta Head of Texas County, Missouri allegedly claimed to run an outdoor service company, and grossly overinflated the number of employees they had. The Heads received $2,462.871 in fraudulent SBA-PPP funds.
   
• Dylan Gregory Neely, of Jasper County, Missouri created two businesses which paid no taxes, according to court documents. Neely listed employees who never worked for him, and the social security numbers that he listed were not associated with the people he listed as employees. Neely fraudulently obtained $399,308.93 in SBA-PPP funds.
   
• Sydney R. Washington, of Jackson County, Missouri fraudulently obtained $13,538 in PPP money, and the loan was later forgiven by the SBA, according to court documents.
   
• Justin Williams, of Jackson County, Missouri, is alleged to have fraudulently obtained $20,832 in SBA PPP money. 
   
• Gregory Burns, of Jackson County, Missouri, allegedly admitted to working with two other people to fraudulently obtain $487,600 in SBA-PPP loans.  Burns used his portion of the money to pay for personal expenses.
   
• Waylen Leslie, of Buchanan County, Missouri, admitted to fraudulently obtaining $471,100 in SBA-PPP loans.  Leslie allegedly used the money to purchase crypto currency and other personal items.
   
• Aviance Shepard, of Jackon County, Missouri and Shawneasha Watson, of Jackson County, Missouri were sentenced and ordered to pay more than $20,000 each in restitution for fraudulent SBA-PPP loans. 
   
• A settlement was reached with William Patrick Vogt and By the Blade, LLC. The defendants agreed to pay the sum of nearly $750,000 for fraudulently obtaining an SBA-PPP loan. Vogt applied for and received the PPP Loan and later applied for and received full forgiveness of the PPP Loan despite knowing that he was ineligible for the loan because he had previously pleaded guilty to a federal offense of felony tax fraud in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

 Operation Show-Me the Money
To expand the state of Missouri’s collective ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud, the Western District of Missouri, alongside Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, and State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, announced the launch of Operation Show-Me the Money. This unprecedented collaborative effort between the State of Missouri and the Department of Justice will focus on protecting taxpayer dollars by prosecuting individuals and entities that defraud state benefit programs.

The focus of the initiative will be on state programs that distribute the $11.5 billion in federal funds Missouri receives to individuals and entities entitled under the law. The goal of Operation Show-Me the Money is to ensure taxpayer dollars reach the people and programs they were intended to support, while staying out of the hands of fraudsters.

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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.  
  
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Roy Dewayne Reed, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, to 262 months in federal prison without parole, followed by four years’ supervised release. 

On Sept. 10, 2025, an officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Reed at a gas station on East Division Street. As an officer attempted to contact Reed, he reversed his vehicle toward the officer and fled into midday traffic at a high rate of speed, driving in the median, and taking Interstate 44 briefly. Officers pursued Reed but ultimately abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety.

Less than an hour later, officers with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office located Reed’s truck at a residence on East Division. Officers located two loaded handguns and six plastic baggies of methamphetamine with a combined weight of approximately 111.84 grams inside two crossbody bags located in the back of the truck. Surveillance footage from the residence showed Reed throwing both bags, one at a time, into the back of the truck.

Reed is a career offender, with eleven previous felony convictions, including multiple assaults, manufacture and distribution of drugs, unlawful possession of firearms, resisting arrest, and motor vehicle theft. At the time that he committed the federal offenses, he was on probation for delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with a motor vehicle. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting in downtown Springfield, Mo., on July 20, 2025, was sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen semi-automatic pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine during the incident.

Kenkori Lenell Grant Jr., 25, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Grant Jr., who has prior felony convictions for harassment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026. 

On July 20, 2025, officers with the Springfield Police Department heard shots fired near the intersection of S. Patton Ave. and W. Walnut St. slightly after midnight. Officers responded and found a victim who had suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers located a blood trail on the pavement of the parking lot near a gold, 2014 Chevy Cruze. The officers observed that there was blood on the Cruze and located an “AR” style pistol underneath the car. The firearm was a Fort Barnes Armory, semi-automatic pistol equipped with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine and loaded with 19 rounds of assorted ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. 

The shooting was captured on Great Southern Bank surveillance cameras, which depicted Grant Jr. walking through a crowd, approaching an individual, and lifting the front of his shirt, revealing a firearm in the front of his waistband. Later investigation revealed that Grant Jr. made threats against the individual that he approached. Grant Jr. then placed his right hand on the firearm and began pulling it from his waistband, while exchanging words with the individual, who then pulled a pistol and shot multiple rounds toward Grant Jr. and his companion, striking both. 

As innocent bystanders ran from the area, Grant Jr. fled northbound, removing the firearm from his waistband. After snaking his way through the parking lot, Grant Jr. can be seen kneeling by the Cruze and placing the gun under the car before walking away from the scene as officers were beginning to arrive. The firearm possessed by Grant Jr. was found to have been stolen. 

On the day of the shooting, Grant Jr. was already on probation for felon in possession of a firearm out of Pettis County, Mo., and had only been released from prison approximately two months prior to July 20, 2025.   

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, and the Springfield, 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.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.  

Semaj Reshod Clark, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Clark had previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting that he possessed a Taurus, model G3, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in Boone County on Aug. 10, 2025.

According to government filings, Clark was found in possession of the firearm after an individual called law enforcement, reporting that Clark was at the individual’s home and was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, Clark fled on foot before being located and arrested with a loaded firearm in his pocket. Clark has prior felony convictions and was not permitted to possess a firearm.

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

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Rocheport, Mo., woman who founded and operated Moresource, Inc. in Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for wire fraud and failure to collect or pay over taxes. 

Kathryn L. Cunningham, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to two concurrent sentences of 18 months’ imprisonment. Cunningham had previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, and one count of failure to collect or pay over taxes. Her sentence on these two counts will be followed by three years of supervised release, and includes a $200 special assessment, as well as order of restitution in an amount to be determined by the court.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Cunningham’s company, Moresource, contracted with clients to calculate and disburse payroll and income taxes for the clients’ employees. Moresource would collect funds from its clients for payroll and related expenses and maintain them in an account. Moresource was also responsible for generating related tax forms for its clients.

Because this payroll account functioned like an escrow account, collecting money from clients before they were due, the account should never have been in a shortage. By January 2020, however, Moresource owed approximately $1.377 million in payroll taxes on behalf of its clients, despite having less than $400,000 in funds available in its payroll account. Ultimately, investigation revealed that Cunningham had taken funds from Moresource’s operating account and used the funds for personal expenses, had borrowed money from at least two lenders to cover shortfalls and had paid for these loans through Moresource account funds, and had obtained an SBA-guaranteed loan and an SBA line of credit to fund Moresource’s operations and payroll account. Cunningham had also requested that clients make early payments of payroll deposits in order to replace funds that she had embezzled, blaming the shortage on another client’s cash flow issues. Meanwhile, Cunningham had also stopped filing timely and accurate IRS Forms 941 and stopped making regular payments to the IRS for employment taxes owed by the clients.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigations.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Butler, Mo., man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

Craig Johnson, 45, of Butler, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr. to multiple federal charges. This plea is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. 

According to information presented in court, Johnson was hired at Community First Bank in 2022 as a Vice President and Loan Officer. While Johnson was employed with Community First Bank, Johnson was also a pastor with a church in El Dorado Springs, Mo. until he was removed in 2025.

Beginning in at least 2024, Johnson began to request “investments” from various individuals for the purpose of buying cattle which would be later sold for profit. The deal varied from person to person but involved Johnson purchasing cattle and selling the cattle for a profit within a short time frame. Johnson told individuals he needed help investing and requested they pay him funds. Johnson worked with some of the “investors” to take out a loan at Community First Bank through Johnson and give the proceeds to Johnson. Johnson did not tell anyone at Community First Bank that he was benefiting from the loan proceeds. 

Johnson did not use the funds to purchase cattle but instead deposited the funds in an investment account where he repeatedly traded in small-capitalization and micro-cap securities ultimately losing all the funds. Johnson served as loan officer for approximately 29 loans and lines of credit at Community First Bank totaling approximately $4,476,156.22.

After receiving the victims’ funds, Johnson did not use the funds for proposed cattle sales. Instead, he used the victims’ funds to invest in high-risk stocks via his personal investment account. To further and conceal his scheme, Johnson used some of the victim’s funds to pay earlier investors in the scheme.

At various times between April 2024 and until Johnson’s termination in February 2026, Johnson used his position as a loan officer and/or his status in the community to defraud individuals and a financial institution of at least $9,395,882.22. Johnson used his position at Community First Bank to obtain loans using the identity of other people. In February 2026, at least three loans were created in various individuals’ names where they were not aware of or approved by these people. The three loans were created to pay off other loans Johnson created in the name of another person.

On Aug. 5, 2024, Johnson completed an application for a loan for $1,447,000 through a financial institution in Jefferson City, Mo. The purpose of the loan was to purchase cow and calf pairs and refinance two loans. On Aug. 13, 2024, the loan was approved for $1,447,150. Of the loan proceeds, $46,809.93 was used to pay off a loan at a bank.  $198,714.46 was used to pay off another loan at a bank and $1,201,475.61 was provided in a check to Johnson and was supposed to be used to purchase 400 head of cattle. 

On Aug. 14, 2024, the loan proceeds ($1,201,475.61) were deposited into a bank account. After the funds were deposited, there was not a large purchase of cattle as agreed upon in the loan. The funds instead were used to repay investors and for personal use.

On Aug. 7, 2025, Johnson completed an application for another loan for $1,500,000 through another financial institution. The purpose of the loan was to purchase 550 cow and calf pairs. On Aug. 13, 2025, the loan proceeds ($1,500,000) were deposited into Johnson’s account. Between Aug. 15, 2025, and Aug. 19, 2025, Johnson transferred $1,450,000 into his investment account.

On Aug. 19, 2025, Johnson completed an application for a third loan for $900,000. The purpose of the of the loan was to purchase 300 cow and calf pairs. The loan was approved for $900,150. The loan proceeds ($900,000) were deposited into Johnson’s bank account. Johnson transferred $900,000 into his personal investment account. 

After receiving the loan proceeds for the second and third loans, Johnson provided a bill of sale dated Aug. 30, 2025, to a financial institution. The bill of sale appeared to show that Johnson purchased 850 cow and calf pairs for $2,825,000 from a livestock company in Evanston, Utah. The company did not sell 850 cow and calf pairs to Johnson in August 2025. The owner of the company stated the name on the bill of sale appeared to be his, but the signature was not.

Johnson did not use the combined funds from the three loans ($3,601,475.61) to purchase cattle as stated on the loan documentation but instead transferred the funds to his personal  investment account and to make payments to previous victims who believed Johnson made good on their cattle deals.

Under federal statutes, Johnson is subject to the following sentences:

• Wire Fraud - up to 20 years in federal prison without parole
• Bank Fraud - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole
• Aggravated Identity Theft – a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence
• False Statement to a Financial Institution - up to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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 Arizona., man was indicted by a federal grand jury with charges related to enticement of a minor. 

Dustin A. Hill, 22, of Florence, Ariz., was charged with attempted enticement of a minor, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and transfer of obscene material to a minor. Hill had his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.

The indictment alleges that between September 6 and Sept. 20, 2025, Hill, using a means of interstate commerce, attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Hill traveled from the State of Arizona to the state of Missouri and then transported the minor from Missouri to the state of Kentucky with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The indictment further alleges that Hill transferred obscene materials to the minor. 

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 Teresa Moore. It was investigated by Atchison, Missouri Sheriff’s Department, the Evansville, Indiana Police Department, and 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 Kansas City, Mo. man was charged after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving.

Dominic M. Miller, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint on Sept. 5, 2026.

The federal criminal complaint charges Miller with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of machine guns on July 24, 2026.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were conducting general patrol in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Propsect Avenue, when they noticed a vehicle driving with an improper license plate. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, Miller, and two other passengers. A computer check revealed Miller had an active warrant out of Kansas and he was arrested. 

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located two Glock handguns under the passenger floorboard. Both firearms were equipped with a machine gun conversion device, more commonly known as a “switch.” These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, more commonly known as machine guns. Laboratory testing confirmed that both firearms functioned as fully automatic machine guns. On Sept. 3, 2026, the Kansas City, Misouri Police Department crime lab located genetic information (“DNA”) consistent with Miller’s DNA on one of the firearms. Prior to this incident, Miller was convicted of the felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Jackson County, Mo., Case Number 2416-CR000871-01.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug‑trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Darell Farmer, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts from a Western District of Missouri indictment charging him with drug trafficking and possessing firearms in furtherance of that trafficking activity, and one count from a case transferred from the Eastern District of Missouri charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officers located a vehicle outside a local hospital and recovered multiple firearms, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Farmer, who had driven the vehicle to the hospital, was taken into custody after officers observed a handgun in plain view and confirmed he had prior felony convictions. After he was indicted in the Western District of Missouri, Farmer later fled from law enforcement in Dunklin County, Mo., in August 2025. Officers recovered another firearm following his arrest.

Under federal statutes, Farmer is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug‑trafficking crime, and additional penalties of up to 20 years for the drug‑distribution offense and up to 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Maximum statutory penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided for informational purposes; sentencing 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 James Kirkpatrick from the Western District of Missouri and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Koester from the Eastern District of Missouri. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in a robbery at a casino in Boonville, Mo. earlier this year. 

Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, of Columbia, Mo., and Hollis Cortez Vanleer of Normal, Ill., were charged with various counts relating to the robbery of the Isle of Capri Casino, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and a substantive charge of interfering with commerce by robbery. Additionally, both Charles and Vanleer are charged with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Vanleer is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to court documents, on March 25, 2026, Charles and Vanleer are alleged to have driven to, parked, and entered the Isle of Capri Casino dressed in black and wearing hats, glasses, and face coverings. One defendant was carrying an AR style rifle, and the other was carrying a 9mm pistol as they made their way through the casino to the main bank area where money was kept. Both took money out of a cash drawer, placed it into a duffel bag, then jumped back over the front counter, ran through the casino, out the front door, and then jumped in their car and drove away. The total amount taken in the robbery was $1,275,999. 

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 Jim Lynn. It was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boonville, Missouri Police Department, Cooper County Sheriff’s Department, and Howard County Sheriff’s Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Missouri state representative candidate has been charged by criminal complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance to plant on his political opponent. 

Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of Joplin, Mo., was charged in a one-count complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance. Ross is currently running for the state seat in House District 161 and won the Republican primary last month.

As alleged in the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted by the Joplin Police Department (JPD) regarding a “public corruption” matter in Joplin, Mo. According to the initial information provided by JPD, the former campaign manager for Ross (C.S.), was asked by Ross to plant drugs on his opponent (L.S.). C.S. provided law enforcement with a black nylon glove that he claimed was given to him by Ross. A small, plastic bag was inside the glove. Inside of the bag was a small amount of white powder. A Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit was used on the powder, which indicated a positive match for cocaine. 

Additionally, inside of the glove was a pink and white capsule. The capsule was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, also known as Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. C.S. told investigators that he and Ross exchanged text messages, in which Ross requested for C.S. to place the bag of drugs inside of the purse or vehicle of L.S. while Ross was out of state on vacation.

“The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence. The Western District of Missouri will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in elections and will pursue violations of public trust when warranted”.

“The conduct alleged in these charges are substantial and serious,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. “Our citizens deserve to know that the election process is done with transparency and fairness. As this case moves through the judicial process, it’s important that it proceeds fairly, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.”

The charges contained in the 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 United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon.  This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin Police Department.  

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

Sunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. 

Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their 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, Mo. The 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, 20, five, 20, 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, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney.

Operation Take Back America

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws. 

On April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.

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, who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, 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. 

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 the Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to the Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake.

The artifacts include a bag of Scallorn arrowheads that originate from a prehistoric archaeological site historically associated with the Osage Nation. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, spent several years investigating unauthorized excavation at the site and recovering the materials so they could be properly safeguarded.

Following the entry of judgment by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes, the Osage Nation and the United States executed a settlement ensuring the return of the arrowheads to the tribe. No other claims were filed for the property.

“Culturally significant items are more than objects, they are a connection to history, traditions, and identity,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “We are honored to help return these items to their rightful home and uphold the federal government’s commitment to protecting the heritage and sovereignty of the Osage Nation.”

The remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law. 

The civil forfeiture action was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick in coordination with a related criminal prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Barnes and Cari Walsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly made the recovery and restoration of these artifacts possible.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

Bryan Isiah Thomas was previously charged in a two-count indictment filed in the Western District of Missouri on July 21, 2026. A federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Thomas distributed fentanyl in Cole County on three separate occasions in March  2026, including one occasion where the fentanyl caused the death of another. 

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

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan T. Duenckel. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced eight prosecutions arising from a proactive investigation by the Boone County Cyber Crimes Taskforce. 

During the week of June 22, 2026, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office conducted a proactive undercover operation seeking out potential online child sexual predators. Undercover law enforcement posed as a minor female on an online platform advertising “escort” services.  Each of the individuals below traveled to an agreed upon location to engage in sexual activity with a minor. 

Daniel Walter Follett, 57, Columbia, Mo.-On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the former general counsel for the Missouri Department of Revenue with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.  On June 23, 2026, Follett allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner.  It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Rollie Howard Pogue, 30, Moberly, Mo.-On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the prior sex offender with one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. On June 23, 2026, Pogue allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Jose Alfredo Jimenez-Hernandez, 54, Columbia, Mo.-On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the illegal alien with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 23, 2026, Jimenez-Hernandez allegedly traveled to a gas station in Columbia to meet with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. Jimenez-Hernandez intended to pay the individual for sex. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Komoroski. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Rifat Hasan Apurba, 30, Columbia, Mo.-On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the University of Missouri graduate assistant with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 22, 2026, Apurba traveled to a gas station to meet an individual he believed was under the age of 18. Apurba intended to pay the individual for sex. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Ethan Schmidt Deimeke, 28, Columbia, Mo.-On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the local attorney with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 24, 2026, Deimeke allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Komoroski.  It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

Brice Leslie Morris, 35, Columbia, Mo- On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Morris with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor.  On June 24, 2026, Morris allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner.  It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

John Binu, 25, Jefferson City, Mo.- On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Binu with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 25, 2026, Binu allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with two individuals he believed to be under the age of 18.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States attorney Nick Komoroski. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. 

David Allen Burres, 32, Plattsburg, Mo. On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Burres, an over the road trucker, with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography. On June 24, 2026, Burres allegedly met an individual he believed to be 14 years old on a chat application. This was during the same proactive investigation but involved a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old female on a chat application. Burres attempted to entice the individual to engage in sexual activity. Burres traveled to a Walmart in Columbia to meet with the individual he believed to be 14 years old.  Burres intended for the minor child to ride with him in his truck and engage in sexual activity. After his arrest, law enforcement located Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on Burres’ cellular telephone. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner.  It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT), and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). 

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

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 Kansas City woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding a state program to obtain federal funds. 

Yolanda Dale, 52, was charged in a four-count sealed indictment on Aug. 27, 2026, by a federal grand jury sitting in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment was unsealed today upon Dale’s initial court appearance. Dale is charged with two counts of theft of government funds and two counts of aggravated identity theft. This is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. 

As provided in the indictment, in 2023, the State of Missouri implemented a program that provided federal funding to childcare providers based on the number of individuals the provider employed during specific periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is alleged that, in March 2023 and July 2023, Dale prepared and filed, or caused to be filed, applications for the federal funding on behalf of the childcare center Dale operated. The indictment further alleges that Dale fraudulently inflated the number of individuals employed during the relevant periods on the applications, and, as a result, the childcare center received at least $75,000 in federal funding to which it was not entitled. 

The federal funding involved was appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which appropriated funds for use by state governments in responding to challenges faced by childcare providers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once appropriated, the ARPA funding was sent to the State of Missouri who developed and implemented programs to disperse the federal funding to childcare providers.

The charges contained in the 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 Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas P. Heberle. This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  

National Fraud Enforcement Division

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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.