Category: Crime

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas is warning the public about phone scams in which callers spoof or fraudulently display themselves as having numbers belonging to government agencies in attempt to defraud victims of money. 

Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from a government or law enforcement agency while demanding payment is encouraged to immediately hang up. Scammers will do everything they can to keep you from ending the call. Since spoofed phone numbers belong to a legitimate agency, please take the next step by directly calling the agency in question. 

A legitimate caller will encourage you to take the time to verify the information.  

“If the first time you hear about supposedly owing the government money that must be paid immediately is through a phone call, it’s more than likely a scam. That’s not how the government does business, so please take the time to find out if the number in your Caller ID actually belongs to the person with whom you are speaking,” said Duston Slinkard, First Assistant.

If you are a victim of a phone or an online scam, immediately contact the bank you used to try to recall the wire transfer. Then file an online complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov).

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Source: United States Attorneys General 7

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two people with transporting methamphetamine across state lines.

According to court documents, Orlando Payan-Parra, 39, and Erika Cardona-Carrizales, 43, both of Coachella, California, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in air of racketing enterprises. Payan-Parra and Cardona-Carrizales allegedly traveled from California to Kansas with intent to distribute controlled substances. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Miguel Ordonez-Ramirez, 29, was indicted on one count of unlawful entry after deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 7

WICHITA, KAN.– A federal jury convicted a Kansas man of defrauding federal and state agencies by a total of $355,550 in COVIID-19 business recovery funds.  

Michael Capps, 44, of Wichita was found guilty of submitting false and fraudulent documents on behalf of his companies to Emprise Bank for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans, as well as to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Business Working Capital grants.

The jury convicted Capps of:
•    one count of false statement to a bank for a PPP loan, 
•    one count of bank fraud – PPP loan, 
•    two counts of false statement to the SBA for EIDL loan, 
•    two counts of wire fraud SBA, 
•    two counts of wire fraud Kansas Department of Commerce, and
•    four counts of money laundering.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Metzger and Molly Gordon prosecuted the case.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 7

WICHTA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with crimes related to drug trafficking and firearms.

According to court documents, Clinton Bruner, 49, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Annali L. Vanarsdale, 19, of Wichita was indicted on one count of bank robbery. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mona Furst and Jason Hart are prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 7

DAVENPORT, IA – An Iowa City man was sentenced on February 21, 2023, to 14 years in prison following his plea to two counts of receiving child pornography.

According to court documents, Luke Kenneth Beckner, age 21, utilized his cellphone and social media accounts to meet minor females and solicit pornography from them. Beckner traveled to meet at least two of the minors and engaged in sexual intercourse with them. After receiving pornographic images, Beckner distributed some of the images of two identified minors to another person. Following his prison term, Beckner was ordered to serve an eight-year term of supervised release.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

Des Moines, IA – A Nevada, Iowa man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison following his guilty plea for possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, on or about December 21, 2021, William Ryan Buttermore, age 24, knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography, including 44 images and four videos, some of which depicted infants and other minors younger than 12 years old. Buttermore downloaded the material from the internet. In addition, Buttermore used an account on Kik Messenger to transport child pornography to others and to encourage others to produce child pornography and engage in sex acts with children. Following his prison term, Buttermore must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Story County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Iowa Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Her Tou Yang, age 42, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced on February 15, 2023, to 60 months and 1 day in prison following his plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After he is released from prison, Yang will serve two years of supervised release.

On August 15, 2021, Yang possessed approximately five pounds of marijuana and a firearm that was reported stolen and sold them to another individual in Council Bluffs. On September 9, 2021, Yang possessed and sold an AR-style rifle in Council Bluffs.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

DAVENPORT, IA – A federal jury convicted Davenport men, Najawaun Marcus Quinn, 26, and Dimetri Alexander Smith, 30, yesterday following a 7-day jury trial for racketeering related charges. Quinn was convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Smith was convicted of two counts of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and two counts of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Quinn and Smith were involved in multiple shootings, including at a residence on the 5400 block of North Division Street in October 2016, at the NorthPark Mall in January 2017, and at Centennial Park in April 2017. These shootings were due to a feud with a rival gang and responses to perceived disrespect to the SLB gang.

Quinn and Smith were also involved in a February 2017 homicide at the Hotel Davenport for which Darion Gardner, 27, of Davenport, another SLB member, pleaded guilty to racketeering related charges and was sentenced to 450 months in prison.

Quinn and Smith committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the SLB gang.

Quinn and Smith will be sentenced at a later date.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “We will continue to pursue and aggressively prosecute those individuals and groups of individuals that choose to commit violent crimes. This investigation, trial and hard work of our partners at the Davenport Police Department exemplifies our joint commitment to using every tool available to combat gun violence and protect the communities we serve.”

Davenport Police Chief Jeffery E. Bladel said “The tremendous work of our investigators and federal partners delivered justice for those impacted by these violent crimes. This case demonstrates the outstanding partnership and collaboration between federal prosecutors and local law enforcement that is vital to keeping our community safe. The Davenport Police Department is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our community and bringing those who commit violent crimes to justice.”

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Cindy Anne Ortiz, age 46 of Omaha, was sentenced on February 1, 2023, to 156 months in prison. In September 2022, a jury rendered a guilty verdict convicting Ortiz of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Upon her release from prison, Ortiz was ordered to serve five years of supervised release.

On November 21, 2021, law enforcement officers were called to the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs regarding an unresponsive male in one of the hotel rooms. Ortiz rented the hotel room and reported the unresponsive male (an acquaintance) in her room to the front desk. The male was pronounced dead. Law enforcement searched the hotel room and bags Ortiz was seen carrying into the room on surveillance footage. Ortiz’s bag contained 643 grams of methamphetamine, empty baggies, a scale, and other paraphernalia.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General 7

Des Moines, IA – Russell Glenn Crane, age 44, of Urbandale, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison following his guilty plea to a charge of Possession of Child Pornography. Crane must also serve a five-year term of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on or about January 6, 2022, Crane knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography, including over 20,000 images and at least four videos, some of which depicted minors younger than 12 years old. Using several electronic devices, Crane had collected the child pornography over the course of at least a decade by downloading the material from various internet sites.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Urbandale Police Department, Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Essley prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.