Crime / Courts Archives

North Missouri businessman receives ten years in federal prison for $142 million grain fraud scheme

August 17, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A prominent northwest Missouri businessman and former school board member will spend the next ten years in federal prison for a $142 million grain fraud scheme, after being sentenced Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Morfitt tells Missourinet that Randy Constant was sentenced on Friday to 122 months in federal prison, which is about ten years. Constant had faced up to 20 years in prison.

Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have called a press conference for Monday morning at 11:30 in Cedar Rapids to discuss the case. The press conference will take place at the federal courthouse.

The 61-year-old Constant is well-known across north Missouri, and is a former Chillicothe School Board member.

Constant pleaded guilty in federal court in Iowa in December to one count of wire fraud. He admits the grain fraud scheme totaled more than $142 million, and that he misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when it was not organic.

It’s unclear which prison that Constant will serve his sentence at. That decision will be up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Two officers shot in southern Missouri; standoff continues

August 16, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

Two officers shot in southern Missouri; standoff continues

A deputy and a state trooper have been shot today while serving an eviction notice to a man in southeast Missouri’s Carter County. Highway Patrol officials tell Missourinet affiliate KWPM in West Plains the deputy was shot in the leg, groin and chest. The trooper was shot in the shoulder and his protective vest.

As of 12:30 p.m., the standoff near Van Buren was still in progress.

The identity of the officers and the suspect, and the officer’s medical statuses, are not known at this time.

Rural Missouri businessman to be sentenced Friday for $142 million grain fraud scheme

August 15, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A northwest Missouri businessman and former school board member will learn his fate Friday morning in Cedar Rapids, when he’s sentenced for a $142 million grain fraud scheme.

61-year-old Randy Constant is a prominent businessman in north Missouri and is also a former Chillicothe School Board member.

Constant pleaded guilty in December in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to one count of wire fraud.

Constant will be sentenced by Judge C.J. Williams in federal court in Iowa.

Constant admits the grain fraud scheme misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when it was not organic.

He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the FBI investigated the case.

CDC says 13 Missouri counties at risk of HIV and Hepatitis C outbreaks from opioids

August 14, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

Graphic courtesy of CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 220 U.S. counties at risk of outbreaks of H.I.V. and Hepatitis C because of the opioid crisis – thirteen are in Missouri. The CDC lists Iron, Bates, Cedar, Hickory, Ozark, Wright, Ripley, Crawford, Madison, St. Francois, Reynolds, Washington and Wayne counties as vulnerable.

Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley tells Missourinet affiliate KREI in Farmington the addictive prescription drug epidemic is not letting up.

“We just now at the tip of the iceberg. It’s going to manifest into something that no one is expecting,” he says. “Actually, I think Iron County ranks 1 or 2 in the whole state as to population ratio to the fatalities.”

Neighboring Kentucky has 54 counties on the CDC list. Tennessee is not far behind with 42 counties. West Virginia has at risk 28 counties.

Missouri law licenses suspended for former prosecutors involved in cover-up of police assault

August 13, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that two former St. Louis assistant prosecutors violated rules of professional conduct, for their role in a 2014 cover-up of an illegal police assault in St. Louis.

The state Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion on Tuesday, that former St. Louis assistant circuit attorneys Ambry Schuessler and Katherine Dierdorf violated the rules of professional conduct.

The opinion, which is written by Judge Patricia Breckenridge, says the severity of the dishonesty of Schuessler and Dierdorf warranted the suspension of their law licenses. The two admitted to withholding their knowledge of a police detective’s beating of a suspect, and of a fellow assistant circuit attorney’s filing of false charges against the suspect.

Dierdorf’s law license has been suspended for three years, Schuessler for two years.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in January.

Missouri Public Defender System rolls out pilot program in hopes of reducing overcrowded jails

August 13, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

Five Missouri cities will be part of a pilot program that aims to reduce overcrowded local jail populations. Missouri Public Defender System Director Michael Barrett tells Missourinet his office will use a program called Uptrust, that sends text messages to remind defendants about their upcoming court dates and other legal appointments. St. Louis, Columbia, Jefferson City, eastern Missouri’s Troy and Kennett in southeast Missouri will be used in the pilot project.

Missouri Public Defender System rolls out pilot program in hopes of reducing overcrowded jails

“For the same reason that I need a text message to remind me of my optometrist appointment that’s coming up in two days, so too does someone need a reminder that they have a court date,” Barrett says. “What we’re trying to do is make whatever efforts we can to ensure ‘Judge – if you follow the 8th Amendment, if you set bond at an amount that the person can post’ we will do everything in our power to make sure that they come back to court.”

Barrett’s office usually sends letters to remind defendants about the important dates. He says the method is largely ineffective because most clients do not have stable places to live.

Barrett thinks the new social justice communication platform could have an impact on local and state budgets.

“An automated texting service to notify clients when to show up to court will significantly improve the failure to appear (in court) rate and cut down on both unnecessary warrants and unnecessary use of pre-trial detainment,” Barrett says. “Not only does this help the criminal justice move more efficiently, it also reduces the amount of money that both the counties and the state have to spend on detaining people who have not yet been convicted of anything.”

Barrett says the state owes local jails about $43 million for holding citizens who are awaiting trial. Missouri is the only state in the nation that reimburses counties for a portion of the defendant’s entire local jail time while the person’s case goes through the court system. The catch is, the only way the jail can get repaid for the total length of stay is if the offender goes to a state prison. If the defendant is acquitted, or receives a fine, probation or a local jail sentence, the county gets zilch.

The Missouri Bar Foundation provided the more than $37,000 grant to cover test program cost.

Barrett says he hopes the technology could one day be used statewide.

“We’re going to be collecting data. We’re going to be studying the numbers. Then hopefully we’re going to be in a position to make our case to the General Assembly come January that this is a way to save the state money,” he says.

The Missouri Public Defender System has about 330 attorneys handling roughly 70,000 to 82,000 cases annually.

Hupp sentenced to life in prison for high-profile Missouri murder; described as “evil incarnated”

August 12, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.- Convicted killer Pamela Hupp will spend the rest of her life in state prison for the 2016 murder of a mentally disabled man in St. Charles County, in a case that’s drawn national media attention.

Crystal Conn, Louis Gumpenberger’s sister, speaks outside the St. Charles County Courthouse on August 12, 2019 (Jill Enders photo)

St. Charles County Circuit Judge Jon Cunningham handed down a life sentence without the possibility of parole to the O’Fallon woman today, for the killing of Louis Gumpenberger. Hupp told police she shot him in self-defense.

Hupp initially pleaded not guilty in 2017; however, she changed that in June to an Alford plea to avoid the death penalty.

In June, Hupp entered an Alford plea to first degree murder and armed criminal action.

An Alford plea is essentially a plea where the defendant maintains innocence, but admits the state’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict in a jury trial.

Investigators have long said that Hupp lured Gumpenberger in a bizarre plot to frame Russ Faria, who was previously convicted of his wife’s murder in Lincoln County, which is north of St. Charles County.

Hupp was a key witness in Faria’s trial. Faria attended Hupp’s sentencing today at the St. Charles County Courthouse.

“She’s evil incarnated and she deserves to go away for the rest of her life,” Faria told reporters after the sentencing.

Faria was later acquitted, after he received a new trial.

Missourinet’s Jill Enders reports Hupp appeared to be laughing in court, prior to today’s sentencing.

“She’s been manipulative the whole way, she wants everybody to believe that she’s still in control. She lost control, and she’s never going to have control again,” St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar told reporters, after the sentencing.

Hundreds turn out in Ferguson for fifth anniversary of Michael Brown’s death

August 9, 2019 By Missourinet Contributor

(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

FERGUSON, Mo.- Today marks the fifth anniversary of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown during a confrontation with then Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson.

Michael Brown Sr. speaks at the Canfield Green apartments in Ferguson on August 9, 2019 (Jill Enders photo)

Prior to the annual ceremony at the Canfield Green apartments, Mike Brown Sr. held a press conference outside the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton. Brown is calling on St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell to re-open the case into his son’s death.

“I could not protect him that day (in 2014) and it breaks my heart. I will stand and fight for justice until the day I die,” Brown says.

Brown tells reporters he’s been communicating with Bell, who defeated longtime St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch in last year’s primary election. Bell was elected in November, and took office in January.

Bell hasn’t said whether or not he’ll re-open the case. He did issue a statement to Missourinet.

“Our office is doing everything we can to understand the underlying issues that contributed to the tragic death of Michael Brown. We are working everyday with the community and law enforcement to implement policies and reforms that meaningfully address those issues, and help this community and this region heal,” Bell’s statement reads.

It was announced on November 24, 2014 that a St. Louis County grand jury decided not to indict Officer Wilson. The announcement resulted in violent protests in Ferguson.

A separate investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice also cleared Wilson of any wrongdoing.

Former fireman shares story about holding armed man at gunpoint outside Springfield Walmart

August 9, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

A former firefighter who says he held a man at gunpoint Thursday for carrying a tactical rifle and a bunch of ammunition through a Springfield Walmart hopes his actions prevented another mass shooting. Terrified shoppers ran outside during the incident in southwest Missouri and the suspect, who was wearing body armor, followed.

Former fireman shares story about holding armed man at gunpoint outside Springfield Walmart

The unidentified citizen tells Springfield television station KOLR he got out his gun and told the man to keep his arms in the air until police arrived.

“He complied and was compliant the whole time,” he says. “He was videotaping on his phone, which was kind of odd.”

The citizen was shopping with his wife when the event unfolded.

“I’ve been in public safety for a long time,” he says. “Even though I’m no longer in public safety, I still feel that I can still protect people if I need to. That was my intention. Hopefully my actions prevented something like El Paso from happening.”

The armed suspect was arrested. No charges have been filed.

Springfield Police arrest heavily-armed man who carried tactical rifle into Walmart

August 8, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(Reporter Jason Rima at Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF contributed to this story)

Police in southwest Missouri’s Springfield say a man carrying a tactical rifle and more than 100 rounds of ammunition was arrested this afternoon, after walking into a Walmart in Springfield. Police say there was no injuries and that no shots were fired.

Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF (FM 104.1) reports the man, who was wearing body armor and military-style fatigues, entered the Walmart near Republic and Golden at about 4:10 p.m.

KSGF reports the store manager saw the man and pulled the fire alarm, and that terrified shoppers ran outside into the parking lot.

Springfield Police Lieutenant Mike Lucas tells reporters the suspect was using his cellphone to video himself as he pushed a shopping cart through Walmart.

Lieutenant Lucas says when other shoppers went outside, the man followed them and was confronted by an off-duty firefighter who pulled his own gun.

Springfield Police then arrived and arrested the suspect. Lucas describes the Walmart scene as chaotic, with people hiding behind barriers to stay safe.

Springfield Police describe the suspect as “an armed white male in his twenties”, adding that the investigation continues and that detectives are working to determine his motives.

Detectives are requesting that anyone who was at the Walmart during today’s incident who didn’t speak to an officer to contact Springfield Police to file a report. That phone number is (417) 864-1810.