(Missouri Independent) – A Missouri law prohibiting state and local police from enforcing certain federal gun laws has already undermined drug and weapons investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in documents filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court. As part of an ongoing lawsuit set for a hearing Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department is asking Cole […]
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Several from Florida charged and convicted of operating sexually exploitive “child modeling” websites
A series of charges and convictions were announced today in connection with an international enterprise based in Florida that operated subscription-based sexually exploitive “child modeling” websites. According to court documents, Kenneth Power (deceased at 58, of Weston), was a principal member of the Newstar Enterprise – an internet-based business aimed at the for-profit sexual exploitation […]
Jury convicts Missouri man of enticing a minor for illicit sex
A man was convicted at trial by a federal jury of attempting to meet a law enforcement officer, posing online as a 14-year-old girl, for illegal sexual activity. Darren Wade Lasley, 32, of Columbia, Missouri, was found guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. On June 14, 2017, Lasley […]
Man pleads guilty in Missouri to armed robbery of a pharmacy
A man has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in the armed robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy in Jefferson City, Missouri. Daijahn Antwan Reed, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to one count of armed robbery and one count of brandishing […]
Highway Patrol provides a summary of new laws related to public safety, transportation, watercraft, & protection of children
The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly, which is related to crime and motor vehicles. The listed legislation has been signed into law. Unless otherwise noted, these laws will go into effect on August 28, 2021. SB 26 PROVISIONS […]
Audio: Temporary health workers commanding as much as $200 per hour in Missouri
Temporary health care workers are in high demand across Missouri and are commanding quite the price for their services. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports hospitals across the state need the extra staff to deal with surges of COVID-19 patients. That’s led to hourly rates that have risen to $200 an hour in some […]
Missouri man on parole for murder, robbery and assault, found guilty of possessing illegal firearm
A Missouri man was convicted at trial by a federal jury of illegally possessing a firearm. James Johnson, 75, a resident of Jackson County, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson was in possession of a Ruger .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun on Nov. 28, 2019. Law enforcement officers confronted Johnson […]
Missouri contractor charged with fraud by Attorney General
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Jeffrey J. Anderson of Manchester, Missouri, has been charged with contractor fraud in St. Charles County relating to his unregistered businesses All Star Basements, West County Basements, and West County Concrete. Anderson faces three felony counts of deceptive business practices. The Attorney General’s Office also has a pending […]
Attorney General announces 72-year-old Missouri landscaper sentenced for fraud
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that John L. Cazzell, 72, was sentenced last month for felony charges of defrauding customers in connection with his business, Four Seasons Lawn & Landscape. Cazzell promised extensive landscaping services in exchange for large advance payments. After taking money from several consumers, including elderly Missourians, Cazzell never followed through […]
Missouri Attorney General scores massive win in “Remain in Mexico” lawsuit
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office, along with the Texas Attorney General’s Office have prevailed in their lawsuit against the Biden Administration over President Biden’s cancellation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), or “Remain in Mexico” policy. A federal court in northern Texas, where the case was filed, issued a nationwide permanent […]
St. Joseph woman sentenced to 15-years in prison without parole for meth trafficking and illegal firearms
A Missouri, woman was sentenced in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Caci R. Clizer, 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 16, 2020, Clizer pleaded guilty to one […]
Northwest Missouri Steam and Gas Engine Association to hold annual show near Hamilton
The Northwest Missouri Steam and Gas Engine Association will hold its 58th Annual Show near Hamilton next weekend. Daily exhibits and demonstrations, a flea market, and live music will be at 834 Northwest Osage Drive from August 20th through 22, 2021. Exhibits and demonstrations will include sawmills, blacksmiths, threshing, gas engines, draft horse fieldwork, historical […]
Audio: Missouri legislator’s federal court trial delayed
A Missouri State Representative’s federal court trial has been moved to June 2022. The trial for Nixa Republican Tricia Derges was scheduled to begin Monday at a federal courthouse in southwest Missouri’s Springfield. Don Ledford, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Missouri, says a witness suffered a stroke and […]
Missouri Attorney General files charges in 2004 Jefferson County murder
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced his office has filed charges against Alice Weiss for the 2004 murder of James Summers. Weiss was charged last night with Murder in the 2nd Degree. The case was handled through the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit, which was established in December of 2020, with help from investigators with […]
Kansas City, Kansas man pleads guilty in Missouri to heroin trafficking
A man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than three kilograms of heroin intercepted by law enforcement officers when it was shipped from California to Kansas City, Missouri. Solomon B. Hawthorne, 31, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to participating […]
Missouri man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing 98 kilos of meth, illegally possessing 23 firearms
A Missouri, man who was responsible for distributing nearly 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, has been sentenced in federal court after law enforcement officers seized nearly two dozen firearms and illegal drugs from his residence. Daniel Dewayne Gregg, 58, of Bates City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Wednesday, Aug. 11, to […]
Former manager at Fort Leonard Wood facility pleads guilty to Theft
The former general manager of the hospital dining facility at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $69,000 from the cash registers. Gregory Arthur Norton, 53, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of theft of public money. Norton was […]
Man who fled from Livingston County Courthouse apprehended
A Chillicothe man who allegedly fled from the Livingston County Courthouse on the morning of August 11, 2021, was apprehended later in the day. Sheriff Steve Cox reports 29-year-old Nicholas Allen Duckworth spoke with a bond supervision employee in the Associate Circuit Court about a court appearance about a drug screen. Duckworth was directed to […]
Missouri to accept Medicaid expansion applications; DSS to begin processing applications on October 1
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians who qualify for benefits under Medicaid expansion can begin enrolling. Still, it may take up to two months until they will find out if their eligibility has been verified and their application has been approved. In a news release Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson announced that in response to a Cole County […]
Missouri man indicted on federal hate crime and firearm charges
A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, returned a two-count indictment charging a Missouri man with hate crime and firearm violations for shooting a teenager with the intent to kill because of the victim’s sexual orientation. According to court documents, Malachi Robinson, 25, is charged with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. […]