Governor Mike Parson signed SB 600 to help address violent crime in Missouri. SB 600 modifies and creates several provisions relating to dangerous felonies, including offenses of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, criminal street gangs, and vehicle hijacking. “As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for 22 years, protecting the citizens of our state […]
Tag: piracy
Auditor Galloway issues statement regarding federal indictments in multi-state $1.4 billion hospital billing scheme
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a statement after the head of a hospital management company and nine other people were charged in a federal indictment of conspiring to operate a multi-state $1.4 billion billing scheme that used rural hospitals to submit fraudulent claims. The scheme was first uncovered after a 2017 audit of Putnam County Memorial […]
Audio: Ten people charged in $1.4 billion billing scheme that includes Putnam County Memorial Hospital
Ten people have been charged in a 1.4 billion dollar rural healthcare billing scheme that includes a northern Missouri hospital. The individuals, including hospital managers, lab owners, and billers, are accused of participating in a scheme using rural hospitals in several states, including Missouri, as billing shells to submit false claims for lab […]
Missouri brothers plead guilty to $4 million investment fraud scheme
Two Kansas City-area brothers have pleaded guilty in federal court this week to their roles in a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme. Phillip Hudnall, 49, of Lenexa, Kansas, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a federal information that charges him with conspiracy to commit […]
Three Mexican nationals sentenced to prison for role in meth conspiracy
Three Mexican nationals have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine. Alfredo Soto-Contreras, also known as “Antonio,” 38, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Omar Eliseo Barraza-Bueno, […]
Missouri man sentenced to prison in $900,000 romance fraud
A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a romance fraud scheme that bilked victims across the United States and overseas of nearly $900,000. Ronayerin K. Ogolor, 51, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to three years in federal prison […]
12 Missouri residents indicted for roles in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
A dozen Springfield, Missouri-area residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Greene County. James D. Collins, also known as “Red,” 46, of Battlefield, Missouri; Darryl Turner, also known as “D,” 56, Bobby G. Rost also known as “Pop,” 62, Elmer E. Freeman Jr., […]
Missouri man who shot police officer, then himself, pleads guilty to drug trafficking
A St. Louis, Missouri, man who shot a law enforcement officer before shooting himself pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and illegally discharging a firearm in Joplin, Missouri. E.F. Fitchpatrick, Jr., 46, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of […]
Missouri man to spend 13 years in prison for distributing meth
A Webb City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Newton County, Missouri. Aaron S. Sutten, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 16, 2019, Sutten pleaded guilty to […]
Missouri woman receives prison sentence for selling meth in exchange for SNAP benefits
A Milo, Missouri, woman has been sentenced in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to sell methamphetamine in exchange for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (commonly known as “food stamps”). Melanie A. Person, 54, was sentenced by M. Douglas Harpool on Wednesday, June 10, to six years in federal prison without parole. […]
California woman sentenced to 27 years in prison for her role in meth conspiracy
A Pomona, California, woman was sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Jasper County, Missouri. Melissa R. Kivett, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 27 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 9, 2019, Kivett pleaded guilty to participating in a […]
Missouri man pleads guilty for role in large-scale methamphetamine conspiracy, faces 15 years in prison
A Springfield, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a large-scale methamphetamine conspiracy that involved multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine transported from Arizona to Missouri. Gregory L. Hopper, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing […]
Missouri man sentenced to 14 years in prison for role in methamphetamine conspiracy
An Independence, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Daniel W. Pendergrass, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 14 years and one month in federal prison without parole. On June 12, 2019, Pendergrass pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to […]
Mexican national pleads guilty to $10 million marijuana grow operation in Daviess County
A Mexican national pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a Daviess County, Missouri, marijuana-growing operation where law enforcement officers seized nearly $10 million worth of plants. Miguel Pulido-Maldonado, also known as “Mona,” 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of conspiracy to manufacture and possess with the […]
Arizona man pleads guilty in Missouri to transporting fentanyl
A Nogales, Arizona, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to transport large amounts of fentanyl through Kansas City, Missouri, en route to New York City aboard passenger busses. Alejandro Rocha, also known as Alejandro Teran, 21, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to participating in a conspiracy […]
Missouri man, a member of Southwest Honkys gang, pleads guilty to meth conspiracy
A Fair Grove, Missouri, man who is a member of the Southwest Honkys violent prison gang pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy in which investigators intercepted a shipment of nearly 9.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. William F. Jones, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to participating […]
Man who escaped Missouri halfway house caught crossing Mexican border into California
A man who escaped from a Springfield, Missouri, halfway house 17 months ago pleaded guilty in federal court after being caught crossing the border from Mexico into San Diego, California. Benjamin E. Garnica, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to escaping from federal custody. Garnica was sentenced on March 20, 2014, […]
Arizona man pleads guilty in Missouri to distributing more than 165 pounds of methamphetamine
An Arizona man has pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Taney County, Missouri. Darcell M. Mills, 41, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Friday, March 13, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Jan. 14, 2019, law enforcement received information that Mills had […]
17 defendants indicted for $10 million conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine
A total of 17 defendants, primarily from the Kansas City metropolitan area, have been indicted for their roles in a nearly $10 million conspiracy to distribute almost 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine. Fahrudin F. Fejzic, also known as “Frank,” 48, Steven M. Lyons, also known as “Pops,” 60, Shelly Marie Exton, 38, Mary L. Corona, 38, […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10-years in prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute meth
A Lee’s Summit, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Joshua Hardin, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On Nov. 25, 2019, Hardin pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from […]