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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Mexican national convicted in $4.7 million drug trafficking conspiracy
A Mexican national has been found guilty of participating in a significant drug trafficking operation connected to the Cárteles Unidos cartel. Luis Eduardo Pineda-Zarao, 29, residing in Lebanon, Tennessee, was convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in distributing methamphetamine and heroin worth $4.7 million across Kansas City and the United States.
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U.S. Attorney appoints officer for overseeing Missouri's election integrity
United States Attorney Teresa Moore has announced the appointment of Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Heberle as the District Election Officer for the Western District of Missouri. Heberle will oversee election day complaints related to voting rights, threats against election officials, and election fraud for the upcoming general election on November 5, 2024.
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Kansas City man pleads guilty to drug charges linked to fatal overdoses
A Kansas City man, Tiger Dean Draggoo, 24, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to distributing fentanyl, leading to three overdose deaths in Missouri. Draggoo admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
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Pediatric neurologist pleads guilty to producing child pornography
A pediatric physician from Overland Park, Kansas, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to child pornography. Brian Michael Aalbers, aged 50 and a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, admitted to using hidden cameras to record 13 children over three years for the purpose of producing child pornography. He also confessed to possessing such material.
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Missouri woman receives life sentences for kidnapping and murder
A Pineville, Missouri woman has been sentenced to consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman and her unborn child. Amber Waterman, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough after pleading guilty on July 30, 2024, to charges including kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of a child in utero.
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Rocheport couple indicted for producing child pornography
A couple from Rocheport, Missouri, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the production of child pornography involving three children. Jeremy James Cudney and his wife, Cassandra Elaine Cudney, both 34, face an eight-count indictment issued in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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Belton man sentenced for drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession
A Belton, Missouri man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for leading a drug-trafficking conspiracy and illegal firearm possession. Serjio Diaz, 40, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Greg Kays after pleading guilty on April 9, 2024, to charges including conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
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15 indicted for meth and fentanyl trafficking after major drug bust
Fifteen individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri, for their involvement in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. This follows the seizure of 100 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl pills from a vehicle being transported from San Bernardino, California, to Springfield.
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Republic man receives federal prison sentence for fentanyl trafficking
A man from Republic, Missouri, has been sentenced in federal court for fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. Tonikko Fewell, aged 35, received a 16-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool.
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Carthage man receives two-decade sentence for meth trafficking
A Carthage, Missouri man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking. Robert Marion Nevels, aged 36, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on October 3rd, without the possibility of parole.
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Kansas City man sentenced for role in firearm theft conspiracy
A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court as the last defendant in a scheme to steal over 100 firearms from vehicles across the Westport entertainment district and other areas in the metropolitan region. The stolen firearms were later sold through social media.
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Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for meth distribution conspiracy
A Kansas City man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Juan Hernandez-Guzman, a 31-year-old Mexican national and permanent U.S. resident, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs without the possibility of parole. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $13,048, representing drug trafficking proceeds.
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Kansas City men sentenced for thefts of over hundred firearms
Two Kansas City men received federal sentences for their involvement in stealing over 100 firearms from vehicles in the Westport entertainment district and other areas. The stolen weapons were sold via social media platforms.
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California therapist sentenced for distributing child pornography
A physical therapist from California has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. Esteban E. Manale, 47, of Hacienda Heights, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips in Kansas City, Missouri. The sentence is without the possibility of parole.
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Kansas City man charged for false emergency call leading to IRS lockdown
A Kansas City, Missouri man has been charged in federal court for making a hoax telephone call that resulted in the detention of an IRS employee and a lockdown at the IRS office on Pershing Road.
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Ozark man receives lengthy sentence for role in meth distribution conspiracy
An Ozark, Missouri man and a Springfield, Missouri man have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
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Joplin man sentenced for role in mail theft leading to bank fraud
A Joplin man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud by stealing mail from local residents.
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Kansas City man charged with possessing hundreds of illegal firearm modification tools
A Kansas City, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with possessing hundreds of homemade devices designed to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns.
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Kansas City tax preparer sentenced for wire fraud and false tax returns
A Kansas City tax preparer was sentenced in federal court for a wire fraud scheme involving nearly $1 million. Ebens Louis-Loradin, 45, received a 20-month federal prison sentence without parole from U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes and was ordered to pay $722,121 in restitution.
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Kansas City man sentenced to 10 years for illegal firearm possession
A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Jonathan Good, 33, received the maximum penalty from U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips.