A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court after law enforcement officers seized more than two kilograms of methamphetamine from his residence. Walter M. Terrell, 37, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 1, 2021, Terrell pleaded guilty to one count […]
Tag: crime
How the Ukraine invasion could affect you: Higher food, gas prices, risk of recession
(Missouri Independent) – Americans may be tempted to view the war in Ukraine as an unfortunate, but far away, crisis. As an economist, I know the world is too connected for the U.S. to go unaffected. On Feb. 22, 2022, President Joe Biden warned Americans that a Russian invasion of Ukraine – and U.S. efforts to thwart or […]
Missouri man sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, without parole, for sexual exploitation of a child
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for using a 3-year-old child to produce child pornography and for possessing additional child pornography. Vincent Dominy, 30, of Republic, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 35 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Dominy to 15 years of supervised […]
Missouri man charged in failed restaurant robbery, after employees wrestle him to the ground and take his gun
A Missouri man was charged in federal court on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The man attempted to rob an Independence, Missouri restaurant but was thwarted when employees wrestled him to the floor and took away his gun. Bryan C. Byers, 23, of Kansas City, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. […]
Registered sex offender in Missouri sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child porn
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that James Taylor, age 45, of Doniphan, Missouri, was sentenced to 120 months or 10 years in federal prison for the offense of Possession of Child Pornography. Taylor appeared for his sentencing hearing before United States District Judge Matthew T. Schelp at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. […]
Missouri man indicted for child pornography on workplace computer
A Missouri man was indicted by a federal grand jury after child pornography was found on his workplace computer. Shane Tyler Barton, 55, of Carthage, was charged with receiving and distributing child pornography in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Barton […]
Misinformation fuels false belief that Missouri COVID death figures are being inflated
(Missouri Independent) – On a recent Tuesday evening in southeastern Missouri, John Freeze stood in front of yet another angry group of constituents. Some here believe the number of COVID-19 deaths are being purposefully inflated for financial gain. Among the culprits, in their mistaken view: Hospitals seeking Medicare reimbursements; The federal government, led by Dr. Anthony […]
Man convicted of sex trafficking adult and minor victims, faces 20-years to life in prison
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin announced the conviction of Cory Hereford, 50, of Beloit, Wisconsin, on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property to distribute and use controlled substances, and of having committed sex trafficking of a minor […]
U.S. House hearing on extremism toward minorities turns into ‘defund the police’ debate
(Missouri Independent) – Leaders of faith organizations and Historically Black Colleges and Universities told members of a U.S. House panel on Thursday how their institutions and places of worship have been roiled by bomb threats and extremism. They talked about the recent waves of bomb threats aimed at HBCUs, a terrifying hostage-taking at a Texas […]
Missouri Attorney General issues statement on Department of Justice lawsuit over Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act
Following a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice over Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt released the following statement: “After their disastrous arguments in the Missouri Supreme Court last week, the Biden Department of Justice has now filed yet another partisan lawsuit that seeks to attack Missourians’ Second Amendment rights. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for $4 million meth conspiracy and illegal firearms
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a $4 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine over three years. Christapher Dean Parton, also known as “Big Baby,” 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by United States District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years in federal prison […]
Audio: Missouri authorities remind drivers to keep a close watch on their car while filling up
Authorities in Missouri are reminding drivers to keep a close watch on their cars while filling up with gas. Surveillance video released by St. Charles County police shows a thief stealing a woman’s car from a BP gas station last week. A gray car pulls up next to the pump and a man […]
Audio: Missouri bill targets smash-and-grab thieves
Mobs of thieves have hit up retailers around the country recently by quickly raiding stores and taking off with piles of merchandise in a matter of minutes. State Representative Lane Roberts, a Republican from southwest Missouri’s Joplin, is sponsoring a bill meant to address these organized theft crime rings, such as so-called smash-and-grab crimes. A […]
Missouri sex offender sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole for possessing child pornography
A Missouri, sex offender was sentenced in federal court for possessing child pornography. Joseph Lynn Clark, 63, of Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 12, 2021, Clark pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. Clark, who has a prior state conviction for […]
Kansas man pleads guilty to racially motivated federal hate crime targeting black man
The Justice Department announced that Colton Donner, 27, pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening an African American man with a knife because of the man’s race, and in order to intimidate and interfere with the man’s right to fair housing. According to documents filed in connection with the plea, on Sept. 11, 2019, Donner […]
Audio: Senator Roy Blunt expresses concern of police officer shortages
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says he’s concerned about the shortage of law enforcement officers in Washington, D-C, and here in Missouri. The Republican says the U.S. Capitol Police force is about 200 officers below the authorized level of two thousand, but it’s not just a problem there. The city of St. Louis and […]
Federal charges filed against Missouri woman linked to multiple overdose deaths
On February 8, 2022, federal charges were filed against Chuny Ann Reed, age 46. Reed is accused of the distribution of crack cocaine (cocaine base) and fentanyl. These charges were a result of an investigation that began after a series of fatal overdoses that occurred at 4451 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on February […]
Grand Jury indicts Missouri man for his role in 3 armed robberies, two carjackings and a business robbery where employee was shot
A federal grand jury indicted James Furlow for numerous counts related to a crime spree during the last week of December 2021. The indictment charges that Furlow committed three armed robberies, specifically, two carjackings and a commercial business robbery. In addition, it is alleged that Furlow discharged a firearm while committing the business […]
Missouri Supreme Court tosses laws that blocked 2019 abortion bill referendum
(Missouri Independent) – In a case that grew out of a law making it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion after eight weeks, the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday said those seeking to force a referendum on new laws can begin collecting signatures as soon as the bill is passed. The ruling threw […]