The Department of Justice has received reports that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency (SWA) websites, for the purpose of unlawfully capturing consumers’ personal information. To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing a link. […]
Tag: justice
Audio: Missouri Supreme Court issues opinion in high-profile Lamar Johnson case
The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from convicted murderer Lamar Johnson of St. Louis, a case that has received national media attention. It’s also a case that has attracted attention from elected prosecutors from across the nation and Missouri. The 47-year-old Johnson has been incarcerated since 1995, serving a life sentence without parole […]
Missouri Attorney General: Not enough evidence for murder charges in Tory Sanders case
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has announced his office’s findings after reviewing all available existing evidence and any available new evidence in the Tory Sanders case. Consistent with the findings of then-Attorney General Josh Hawley and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who also consulted with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the Attorney General’s […]
Audio: After years of attempts, Missouri House passes private schooling tax credit bill
After years of attempts, the state House has voted to pass a bill that would let donors provide scholarships for students to attend a private Missouri K-12 school. In return, they would get state tax credits. Under the bill, students with special needs and those who qualify for free and reduce price school meals would […]
Defendant sentenced to 36-years in prison on multiple counts of sex and drug trafficking
Prince Bixler, 41, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Wier to 36 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $333,100 in restitution to three sex trafficking victims. In September 2020, a federal jury convicted Bixler of 15 federal felonies related to his […]
One of the nation’s largest chicken producers pleads guilty to price fixing and is sentenced to $107 million criminal fine
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today. According to the plea agreement entered […]
Bill increasing penalties for protesters wins initial approval in Missouri Senate
(Missouri Independent) – Republican state Senators advanced sweeping legislation early Tuesday morning aimed at penalizing protestors who block streets, while also providing further protections for law enforcement under investigation for misconduct or excessive force. The bill also aims to prevent municipalities from decreasing the budgets for law enforcement agencies in Missouri by more than 12 percent over […]
WWII Nazi concentration camp guard removed to Germany
A Tennessee resident with German citizenship was removed to Germany for participating in Nazi-sponsored acts of persecution while serving as an armed guard at a Nazi concentration camp in 1945. In February 2020, Friedrich Karl Berger, 95, was ordered removed from the U.S. based on his participation in Nazi-sponsored persecution while serving in Nazi Germany […]
Biden backs reparations study, as House Democrats push for commission
(Missouri Independent) – The White House on Wednesday indicated that President Joe Biden would support studying reparations for slavery, the same day that House Democrats held a hearing on legislation that would set up a reparations commission. But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stopped short of saying Biden would sign the bill under consideration […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol announces promotion of Steven Wilhoit to Captain
The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotion effective March 1, 2021. Lieutenant Steven V. Wilhoit, Q/DDCC, will be promoted to the rank of captain and named commanding officer of Troop A, Lee’s Summit, MO. Wilhoit was appointed to the Patrol on July 1, 1996, as a member of the 72nd […]
Woman first in the nation charged with misappropriating monies designed for COVID medical provider relief
A Michigan woman was indicted on allegations that she intentionally misappropriated government funds that were designed to aid medical providers in the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 and used them for her own personal expenses. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin of […]
Florida man lies to obtain $3.9 million in federal loans; spends money on Lamborghini
A Florida man pleaded guilty for fraudulently obtaining approximately $3.9 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans and using those funds, in part, to purchase a $318,000 Lamborghini sports car for himself. Federal investigators linked the sports car to Hines after he was involved in a hit and run on July 11, the Miami Herald reported. […]
Audio: St. Joseph will retain its connection to the Aunt Jemima brand
Aunt Jemima products will be gone from grocery shelves in June, and in their place will be bottles of syrup and boxes of pancake mix labeled Pearl Milling Company. The impending change was first announced in June of 2020, after the police killing of George Floyd and the ensuing protests over racial injustice. “We recognize […]
Audio: U.S. Marshals capture southern Missouri man accused of threatening to kill Wright County sheriff and judge
The U.S. Marshals have announced that they’ve captured a southern Missouri man accused of threatening to kill Wright County Sheriff Sonny Byerley, a judge, and their family members. 50-year-old Lonnie Richardson was arrested Monday after marshals and Laclede County Sheriff’s deputies found him hiding in a small camping trailer near southwest Missouri’s Lebanon. […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol to promote Gallatin native to Major
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotion effective March 1, 2021. Captain Scott A. Shipers, commanding officer of Troop A, Lee’s Summit, is being promoted to the rank of major. Major Shipers will transfer to General Headquarters, Jefferson City, where he will serve as the bureau commander […]
Man sentenced to 17-years in prison for advertising videos and images of children being sexually abused
A Washington, D.C., man was sentenced to over 17 years in prison for advertising videos and images of children being sexually abused. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin of the District of Columbia, and Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson of […]
Missouri Attorney General and 22 other states argue allowing citizens to carry is fundamental right and deters crime
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office, along with 22 other state Attorneys General, filed an amicus brief in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Corlett in the United States Supreme Court. The brief, led by Missouri and Arizona, argues that permitting law-abiding citizens to carry firearms in self-defense outside the […]
Audio: Chief Justice asks for more security for courthouses and judges
In his annual State of the Judiciary speech, Chief Justice of State Supreme Court George W. Draper III says Missouri’s legal system was better prepared than those in other states to handle the pandemic’s massive disruptions. But he says the state is less prepared to handle the threats of violence against judges and their families- […]
Man charged with $1.9 million COVID-relief fraud after seeking forgivable loans
A Nevada man was charged in an indictment Wednesday for his alleged participation in a scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions by filing bank loan applications that fraudulently sought more than $1.9 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. […]
Department of Justice arrests 11 individuals on drug conspiracy and dog fighting charges
An indictment was unsealed charging 11 individuals on a 136-count federal indictment including violations of drug conspiracy, drug possession, and drug possession with the intent to distribute, and violations of the dogfighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and conspiracy to commit the same. The defendants include Jarvis Lockett, 40, of Warner Robins, Georgia; […]