A Missouri legislator is scheduled to go on trial soon in two alleged fraud schemes. Nixa State Representative Tricia Derges is scheduled to go on trial beginning August 16 for 23 felony counts. Last March, a federal grand jury indictment alleges Derges fraudulently received about $300,000 in federal coronavirus aid for nonprofit medical […]
Tag: FEDERAL
Biden-Harris Administration extends eviction moratorium for homeowners
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended through September 30 the eviction moratorium for homeowners of properties financed or guaranteed by USDA. “The United States is still reeling from a nationwide housing affordability crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA is taking this important action today to allow individuals and families who face eviction from […]
Six from Missouri indicted for kidnapping and murder
Six southwest Missouri residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the death of the victim. Freddie Lewis Tilton, also known as “Ol’ Boy,” 48, and Carla Jo Ward, 47, both of Joplin, Mo.; Amy Kay Thomas, 38, of Webb City, Mo.; James B. […]
Nine MS-13 gang members indicted in racketeering and violent crime conspiracy
A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee, has returned a 60-count indictment charging nine members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) with a racketeering conspiracy spanning more than seven years. Those charged in the second superseding indictment are Carlos Ochoa-Martinez, 31, aka “El Serio;” Jason Sandoval, 35, aka “Bin Laden;” Jorge Flores, 29, aka “Peluche;” Kevin […]
Missouri fugitive arrested in Guatemala, returned to United States to face indictment for kidnapping and murder
A Noel, Missouri, man has been arrested in the Republic of Guatemala and returned to the United States to face a federal indictment for kidnapping the 4-year-old daughter of a woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase last year. Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 39, a Somali national, was charged in an indictment returned on Aug. […]
Two St. Joseph men indicted for heroin trafficking and illegal firearms
Two St. Joseph, Missouri, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing firearms. Roderick A. Hughes, 48, and Franklin T. Hicks Jr., also known as “Frankie,” 40, were charged in a seven-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury […]
Audio: Central Missouri firearms dealer charged in connection with the January 6th insurrection has been handling guns.
A central Missouri firearms dealer charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot competed in a shooting contest earlier this month which is against the terms of his release. The Kansas City Star reports that during a hearing in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla (Tay-Paul Chaw-la) […]
Kansas City man indicted for bank robbery in Joplin
A Kansas City, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury for robbing Great Southern Bank in Joplin, Mo., last week. Leland Scott Graham, 57, was charged with bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Graham on […]
Missouri man sentenced to 14 years in prison without parole for sexual exploitation of a child
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for enticing a 15-year-old victim through social media to engage in illicit sexual activity. Clinton Anthony Yeats, 29, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Yeats to 15 years of supervised […]
Missouri’s vaccine incentive program promotes MO ABLE as an option for Missourians with disabilities
The Department of Health and Senior Services recently rolled out the new MO VIP Program, the state’s vaccine incentive program that rewards those Missourians who have chosen or will choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Starting this month, DHSS will partner with the Missouri Lottery to draw 180 winners in each of five randomized drawings […]
Missouri notifying individuals of possible waiver of recovery from federal unemployment overpayments
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has implemented a process for claimants to apply to the Division of Employment Security for potential waiver of the recovery of non-fraud federal pandemic program unemployment benefit overpayments. Notices to eligible claimants began mailing out last week and are available in the “Correspondence” tab of UInteract, Missouri’s […]
Josh Hawley urges Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in Mississippi abortion case
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley joined with two of his GOP colleagues on Monday to file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Hawley, a Yale Law School graduate, and former Missouri attorney general, has said before that he […]
Audio: FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug; next fight is making the medication affordable
First-ever federal approval has been given to a drug to help delay decline and slow Alzheimer’s disease among patients in the early stage of the disease. Stacy Tew-Lovasz, president of the Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the next step is to make the drug affordable. The pharmaceutical company plans to price the medication […]
Groups urge swift funding after court upholds Medicaid expansion
Health-care advocates called on Missouri lawmakers to allocate funds for Medicaid expansion right away after the state Supreme Court ruled they must extend coverage to the 275,000 people who fall into what’s known as the Medicaid gap. That means they have incomes above their state’s eligibility for Medicaid but cannot afford marketplace or employer-based insurance. […]
Twenty-two charged in connection with more than $11-million Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme
Seventeen more individuals have been charged in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain approximately $11.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to use those funds to purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other personal items. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2020, the defendants submitted or […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to meth conspiracy
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Springfield, Mo., area. Cheyenne W. Conn, 45, of Everton, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to commit […]
Missouri Supreme Court rules voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri must expand Medicaid to 275,000 eligible people who were expecting coverage under a constitutional amendment that took effect July 1, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a unanimous opinion, the court overturned a trial court ruling that the amendment, passed in August 2020 was unconstitutional because it may increase the state’s cost for […]
Coalition of lawmakers urge Biden administration to drop proposed tax hike on farm families
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), along with the entire Senate Republican caucus, sent a letter to President Biden urging him to abandon his effort to impose a capital gains tax increase on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. Repealing this part of the tax code would have a devastating effect on multi-generation operations, which could lead […]