Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S. Attorney praises cooperation of Missouri state and local law enforcement agencies in combatting illegal immigration

United States Attorney Tim Garrison praised the cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Western District of Missouri today, as U.S. Attorney General William Barr addressed the problem of sanctuary cities elsewhere in the nation. “We appreciate the cooperation in this district among state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Garrison. […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Two arrested for attempting to obtain a narcotic from Trenton pharmacy

Two Chicago, Illinois residents accused of attempting to obtain Phenergan with Codeine from Evercare Pharmacy of Trenton have been charged in Grundy County. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year-old Pierre Celestine and 42-year-old George Ernie Almond were arrested by the Trenton Police Department Tuesday. They are each charged with felony fraudulently attempting to obtain […]

Court News graphic

Prison sentences handed down in Thursday session of Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court

Prison sentences were issued and probations were ordered for numerous individuals Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Trenton resident Sean Philip Biller pleaded guilty to an amended charge of drug possessions. Biller was sentenced to seven years with the Department of Corrections. Execution of the sentence was suspended and Biller was […]

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Mexican national pleads guilty to illegally entering the United States eight times

A Mexican national pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to illegally entering the United States for the eighth time. Jesus Vargas-Melendez, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously deported. By pleading guilty, Vargas-Melendez admitted that he illegally entered the United States […]

Firearms (Gun) Background Check with application

Jury convicts Missouri man of providing false information in two attempts to purchase firearms

A Jefferson City, Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal jury of providing false information in two unsuccessful attempts to purchase firearms. Joshua Michael Lehman, 35, was found guilty on Monday, December 9, of two counts of making false statements in a federal record provided to a licensed firearms dealer. Lehman attempted to purchase […]

Gavel and Law book news graphic

Jury convicts Cuban national of Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

A Raytown, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. Victor Rodriguez Kessel, 63, a Cuban national, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, attempting to manufacture crack cocaine, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, […]

Child Sex Crimes news graphic

Missouri sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography

 A Springfield, Missouri, man with a prior conviction for transporting child pornography pleaded guilty in federal court to another child pornography offense. David Todd Beresky, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to possessing child pornography. Beresky remains in federal custody. At the time of the offense, Beresky was on supervised […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton man arrested on felony stealing allegation

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton man Monday on two felony stealing charges. Thirty-four-year-old Justin Wayne Stephenson has been charged with stealing, all other property, and stealing, fourth or subsequent offense within 10 years. Bond is $1,500 cash only, and he was scheduled for the Associate Division of Grundy County […]

Drug Trafficking

Additional charges filed against former Kansas City Chiefs player, more defendants in drug-trafficking conspiracy

Additional charges have been filed against a former Kansas City Chiefs football player and eight co-defendants for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that operated primarily in Eastern Jackson County. Saousoalii P. Siavii Jr., also known as “Junior,” 41, of Independence, Missouri, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal […]

Firearms (Gun) Background Check with application

Audio: Missouri lawyer says federal background check system used for firearms sales is faulty

A southwest Missouri trial lawyer says the federal background check system used for firearms sales is faulty. During a Monday hearing before an interim Missouri Senate committee studying the state’s gun violence problem, Craig Heidemann of Springfield, says Missouri is not providing mental health information to the database, to keep guns away from unstable people. […]