U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri
Recent News About U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri
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Five indicted in Missouri for roles in drug-trafficking conspiracy
Three residents of southwest Missouri are among five defendants indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine while arresting two co-defendants in Texas. The individuals involved include Mario Jose Castillo, 55, of Springfield, Mo.; Christhian Eduardo Cruz-Pineda, 22, a citizen of Honduras residing in Springfield; Johnathan David Emerson, 47, a resident of Willard, Mo.; and Bryan Ramirez-Aguero, 33, a citizen of Honduras, and Erika Martinez Hernandez, 40, a citizen of Mexico both residing in Grand Prairie, Texas.
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Missouri business owner sentenced for tax evasion totaling over $600k
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Daniel Alan Ryan, a business owner from Platte Woods, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for failing to pay over $600,000 in federal income taxes spanning several years.
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Missouri officers honored during National Police Week 2024
In recognition of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore has paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The week-long commemoration will run from Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
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Former Boone County man indicted for child pornography production
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former Boone County, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for using a 9-year-old victim to produce child pornography. Emrah Eymez, 38, who currently resides in Lafayette, Indiana, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Eymez on April 17, 2024.
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Former sheriff's deputy faces additional child pornography charges
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Darrin Marshall Skinner, a former Camden County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer previously charged with distributing child pornography, was indicted by a federal grand jury today on additional related charges. The 49-year-old was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City. This indictment replaces a criminal complaint filed against Skinner on Thursday, May 9, and includes additional charges.
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Springfield sex offender sentenced to 15 years for child pornography
A registered sex offender from Springfield, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography. The illegal material was discovered on his cell phone during an investigation into threats he made to a sheriff’s department employee.
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Joplin man indicted for alleged production of child pornography
A Joplin, Missouri man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly exploiting two children to produce child pornography. Russell Myers, 44, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by the grand jury in Springfield, Missouri.
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Missouri business owner sentenced for CARES Act fraud
In Jefferson City, Missouri, a business owner from Kingdom City has been sentenced in federal court for fraudulently obtaining over $673,000 in loans intended for several businesses under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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Former sheriff's deputy charged with distributing child pornography
A former deputy sheriff and school resource officer from Camden County, Missouri, has been charged in federal court with distributing child pornography. Darrin Marshall Skinner, 49, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Thursday, May 9.
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Former bank VP pleads guilty to $1.5 million fraud scheme
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Stacia Wilson, a former vice president of St. Clair County State Bank in Osceola, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling over $1.5 million from the bank.
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Kansas City father and son indicted for illegal firearms trafficking
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A father and son from Kansas City, Mo., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlicensed firearm sales, illegal possession of firearms, and drug trafficking. Nathan Caldwell, Sr., 52, also known as “Prince Bossalinie,” and Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 32, were charged in a 29-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, May 7. The indictment was unsealed and made public upon their arrest and initial court appearances.
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KC Man Indicted for Producing Child Pornography
A Kansas City man has been indicted for producing child pornography that depicted the sexual assault of a 3-year-old victim. Michael Adden, 26, faces multiple charges including producing, attempting to produce, distributing, and possessing child pornography.
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Springfield Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Heroin Conspiracy
A Springfield, Missouri man, James D. Elbert, 42, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Greene County. The sentence was handed down by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. Elbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin on July 5, 2023, admitting to distributing at least 100 grams of heroin in Greene County between October 2, 2015, and November 13, 2017. He acknowledged selling a total of 6.86 grams of heroin to an undercover informant on three separate occasions in...
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Oklahoma Inmate Sentenced to 26 Years for Leading Meth Conspiracy from his Prison Cell
An inmate at the Lawton Correctional Facility in Oklahoma has been sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for leading a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in Greene and Polk Counties from behind bars. Joshua A. Ramirez, 39, received the sentence from U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, May 7. Ramirez, with no legal address, was sentenced as a career criminal due to previous felony convictions. Ramirez admitted to facilitating large methamphetamine transactions while incarcerated, utilizing drug couriers to transport the drug and handle proceeds from...
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Jury Convicts El Dorado Springs Man of Child Pornography
"SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An El Dorado Springs, Mo., man who was caught with thousands of images and videos of child pornography was convicted at trial today.
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Two Men Indicted for Robbing Commerce Bank in Kansas City, Missouri
Two Men Indicted for Robbing Commerce Bank in Kansas City, Missouri
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KC Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Fentanyl Conspiracy That Resulted in Overdose Death
A Kansas City man, Dmitry Cattell, has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that led to an overdose death. U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips handed down the sentence on Thursday, May 2. Cattell pleaded guilty to several charges related to the distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.During the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented regarding the delivery of fentanyl by Cattell, which tragically resulted in the death of an individual on May 18, 2020....
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy After Officers Seize $1 Million Worth of Cocaine in I-70 Traffic Stop
An Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, man has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine after law enforcement officers seized more than $1 million worth of cocaine from a rental truck that was stopped on Interstate 70 in Lafayette County, Mo."Luis Gerardo Nieto-Acosta, 37, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, April 29, to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking...
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Kansas City Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery and Carjacking During Illegal Drug Sale
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mykus Butler, a 25-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, has been handed a severe sentence in federal court for his involvement in an armed robbery and carjacking that took place during an illegal drug sale. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays sentenced Butler to 14 years and two months in federal prison without parole.Butler pleaded guilty to several charges, including aiding and abetting a robbery, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting a carjacking. He confessed to contacting the victim under the...
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Springfield CPA Pleads Guilty to Stealing $400,000 from Trust Fund
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man, Ray Leonard Marple, 61, has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $400,000 from a trust fund under his control.According to court documents, Marple admitted that he embezzled approximately $432,981 from a revocable trust account over a period of almost six years. The embezzlement took place following the death of the grantor.Marple confessed to stealing at least $415,481 from the trust account and using the funds for personal purposes, including the purchase of his residential property in Springfield....