A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers. Jamahl D. Jones, 35, Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to one count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in relation […]
Tag: admit
Missouri woman sentenced 8 years in prison for meth trafficking
A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking after she received a large package of methamphetamine shipped from California to distribute locally. Cassiopeia Marie Blaise, 37, Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years in federal prison without parole. Blaise pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2021, to […]
Legislators weigh blocking COVID visitor restrictions at Missouri hospitals, nursing homes
(Missouri Independent) – State Rep. Ed Lewis had just hours to say goodbye. In March 2020, his 89-year-old mother had to go to the hospital after suffering from a fall. Lewis’ sister was their mother’s primary caregiver, but in the pandemic’s first days as hospitals restricted visitors, family members weren’t allowed to stay with her. Lewis […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to $10 million conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilos of meth
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a nearly $10 million conspiracy to distribute almost 1,000 kilograms (2204 pounds) of methamphetamine. Michael B. Becher, 40, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Sept. 1, 2018, to Nov. 5, 2019. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with murder for hire case
A Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for attempting to hire an undercover law enforcement agent to murder the victim in a pending statutory sodomy case. Jon Mark Wilson, 58, of Sedalia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on April 5, 2022, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, without parole, for producing child pornography
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for producing child pornography and distributing those images over the internet. Dennis Tyler Murray, 32, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct 25, 2021, Murray pleaded guilty to one count of using a […]
Former Missouri corrections officer sentenced to prison for smuggling contraband into jail
A former corrections officer at the Jackson County Detention Center was sentenced in federal court for taking bribes to smuggle illegal drugs to inmates of the facility. Daniel Coach, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one year and two months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Coach […]
Missouri man sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for meth conspiracy
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Darrell Lynn Ferguson, 57, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and one month in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 6, 2021, Ferguson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy […]
Missouri woman sentenced to 13 years in prison, without parole, for meth conspiracy
A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute substantial quantities of methamphetamine in the Henry County, Mo., area. Vita P. Hurt, 67, of Blairstown, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 13 years and two months in federal prison without parole. On Aug. 11, 2021, […]
Missouri business woman pleads guilty to failing to pay $2 million in payroll and employment taxes; faces 5 years in prison
A Missouri business owner has pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to pay nearly $2 million in payroll and employment taxes over four years. Sandra Eller, 59, of Napoleon, Mo., waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, April 7, to a federal […]
Woman pleads guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving the forced labor of Mexican agricultural workers
A woman in Florida pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy that victimized Mexican agricultural workers admitted into the United States under the H-2A temporary visa program. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. According […]
Democrats block Hawley’s bill to get tough on child sex offenders
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) went to the Senate Floor on Tuesday to call for unanimous consent to pass his “Protect Act of 2022” which protects children from sexual exploitation by enhancing the penalties for possessing child pornography and preventing judges from sentencing offenders below federal guidelines. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) objected and blocked the […]
Trenton Park Board discuss staff, admission rates and employee payroll at Trenton Aquatic Center
The Trenton Park Board Pool Committee on April 5th discussed raising pay for pool staff and daily rates. Information is to be presented to the Park Board on April 6th for the board to vote. The Pool Committee meeting was originally to be at the Park Office, but it was moved to Barnes Greenhouses due […]
Hawley introduces “PROTECT Act of 2022” which will toughen sentences for child porn offenders
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the PROTECT Act of 2022, which protects children from sexual exploitation by enhancing the penalties for possessing child pornography and by preventing judges from sentencing offenders below federal guidelines. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Representative Ken Buck (CO-4) is […]
Preferred Family Healthcare to pay more than $8 million in fines related to embezzlement, bribery investigation
Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare will pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement announced, which acknowledges the criminal conduct of its former officers and employees. “Preferred Family Healthcare must relinquish the illegal profits it garnered from […]
Teacher and coach at Braymer school facing additional charges of sexual abuse, sodomy, and sexual contact with a student
Additional charges have been filed against a teacher and coach for the Braymer C-4 School District who was originally charged last week after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students. Additional charges for 29-year-old Zachary Wayman Douglas of Utica include four felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two felony counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking 100 pounds of meth and illegal firearms
A Missouri man who sold an assault rifle and methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Jacob Michael Richardson, 34, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, March 29, […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to meth trafficking and an illegal firearm
A Missouri man who was arrested after he drove two victims of an accidental shooting to the hospital emergency room has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to illegally possessing firearms. Jason Ruben Breedlove, 40, of Independence, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Monday, March 28, […]
Teacher and coach at Braymer School District facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students
A teacher and coach for the Braymer C-4 School District is facing charges after allegedly sending nude photos and videos to students. Twenty-nine-year-old Zachary Wayne Douglas of Utica has been charged with one count of felony sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, one count of felony first-degree sexual misconduct, and four counts of misdemeanor […]