FBI Archives - Missourinet

Man pleads guilty to throwing Molotov cocktail inside Columbia’s Planned Parenthood facility

November 21, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Columbia man will be heading to federal prison, after admitting in a Jefferson City courtroom on Thursday that he threw a Molotov cocktail inside the Columbia Planned Parenthood facility in February.

Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster faces a minimum of five years in federal prison, after pleading guilty to two counts. Kaster pleaded guilty to two counts of a superceding information. The first count is maliciously using explosive materials to damage a building owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance. The second count is violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman Don Ledford tells Missourinet those two counts replaced the federal indictment, which will be dismissed at sentencing.

Kaster faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie Epps Jr. today in Jefferson City that he took the actions because Planned Parenthood provided reproductive health services at that facility.

Kaster was arrested in March, after federal agents served multiple search warrants. He admits that he made a Molotov cocktail on February 10 and threw it into the Columbia Health Center, which is operated by Planned Parenthood Great Plains. There were no injuries in the incident, which happened at about 4:10 a.m.

Federal prosecutors have said that surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. After a few attempts over the next hour, prosecutors say Kaster ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside.

Kaster has been in federal custody, without bond, since his March 2 arrest. A sentencing date hasn’t been set yet.

The case was investigated by Columbia Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and by the FBI.

Rural Missouri businessman involved in “Field of Schemes” fraud commits suicide

August 20, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A prominent northern Missouri businessman who was sentenced to federal prison on Friday for a multi-million dollar grain fraud scheme has committed suicide.

61-year-old Randy Constant of Chillicothe also served at one time on the Chillicothe School Board.

He pleaded guilty in federal court in December in Iowa to one count of wire fraud, for a $142 million grain fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors in Cedar Rapids describe it as the “Field of Schemes” fraud, adding that it’s the largest organic fraud case in United States history.

Constant was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on Friday. Livingston County Coroner Scott Lindley tells Missourinet that he was called to a Chillicothe home Monday evening, and that he found Randy Constant dead inside the garage from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Lindley says it’s been ruled a suicide. Chillicothe Police say the investigation was conducted by police, emergency services and by Coroner Lindley.

In federal court on Friday, Constant admitted the grain fraud scheme involved more than $142 million. He also admitted that he misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when it was not organic.

Federal prosecutors and representatives from the FBI and USDA held a press conference on Monday morning in Cedar Rapids, and criticized Constant’s fraud.

Federal prosecutors say that from 2010 to 2017, he sold more than 11-million bushels of grain, and that more than 90 percent of it was falsely marketed as organic. The U.S. Attorney’s office notes that amount of grain would fill about 3,600 rail cars.

“We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring to justice individuals who have so blatantly betrayed the trust of consumers,” FBI acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Green told reporters Monday in Cedar Rapids.

Three Nebraska farmers who were involved in the scheme were also sentenced to federal prison this week.

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).

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.

Fall trial date set for Columbia Planned Parenthood arson suspect

August 3, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A September trial has been scheduled for a Columbia man charged with last winter’s arson at a mid-Missouri Planned Parenthood facility.

42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster is charged in federal court with the February 10 arson at the Columbia Health Center, which is operated by Planned Parenthood Great Plains. He’s charged with one count of maliciously damaging a building, owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, by means of fire or an explosive.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Garrison’s spokesman, Don Ledford, tells Missourinet that Kaster’s trial is set for September 23 at the Christopher Bond U.S. Courthouse in Jefferson City.

Federal prosecutors say surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he allegedly broke the front door and placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. After a few attempts over the next hour, prosecutors say Kaster ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside.

Kaster was arrested on March 2, after federal agents served multiple federal search warrants. The FBI investigated the case.

Rural Missouri “Skidmore Bully” case to be profiled by Sundance TV

August 1, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A 38-year-old unsolved Missouri killing that attracted national media attention and a best-selling book is being featured by Sundance TV.

The 1981 northwest Missouri case involves a man described by some as the “Skidmore Bully”. Skidmore is near Maryville.

Kenny Rex McElroy was killed in front of a tavern “in broad daylight”, as a 1991 NBC made-for-television movie called it. Townspeople had complained that McElroy terrorized the town.

No one was ever charged in the killing. The FBI reportedly conducted more than 100 interviews.

Sundance TV will be starting a six-part series on the case today.

Audit: northwest Missouri bookkeeper used embezzled money on cruises, credit cards

July 17, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s state auditor says the former bookkeeper for a northwest Missouri road district misappropriated more than $286,000.

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway briefs Capitol reporters on April 2, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Alisa Nelson)

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway says former Plattsburg Special Road District bookkeeper Ava Langner allegedly embezzled the money from 2011 to 2018.

Galloway’s office has released a scathing district audit, which says Langner used to money to pay credit cards and for travel on Carnival Cruise Lines. The audit also says Langner used the money for entertainment at locations like Silver Dollar City, the Starlight Theatre and Space Center Houston.

The audit says $76,000 was used to pay Langner’s personal credit card bills.

Langner served as the district’s secretary/treasurer, and was fired by the board in October.

Galloway spokeswoman Steph Deidrick tells Missourinet that Langner has not been charged yet, adding that the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are investigating.

The auditor’s 46-page report notes the Clinton County prosecutor referred the matter to both the Highway Patrol and the FBI.

The state auditor’s public corruption and fraud division released the audit today, giving the district a rating of “poor.”

“This was a brazen betrayal by an official entrusted with public funds, who then tried to cover her tracks by falsifying documents,” Galloway says in a statement. “Restoring public trust and confidence in the district may be a challenge going forward, but it is vitally important that it happen.”

Galloway says a whistleblower contacted her office last fall, regarding potential fraud in the district. Galloway says that after a preliminary investigation found the allegations credible, she asked for and received a request from district officials to conduct an independent audit.

Plattsburg, which is in Clinton County, is southeast of St. Joseph.

August sentencing date set for Missouri businessman involved in grain scheme

July 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A northwest Missouri businessman and former school board member faces a potential lengthy federal prison sentence, for a $142 million grain fraud scheme.

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

Federal prosecutors in Iowa say Constant pleaded guilty in federal court in December to one count of wire fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Morfitt tells Missourinet Constant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Iowa on August 16.

Constant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Morfitt says Constant admits the grain fraud scheme is more than $142 million. Constant misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when it was not organic.

Prosecutors also say Constant admits falsely telling customers the grain he sold was grown on his certified organic fields in Nebraska and Missouri. Prosecutors say the certified organic fields were sprayed with unauthorized substances.

As part of his December plea, Constant agreed to forfeit about $128 million in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.

Three Nebraska farmers who pleaded guilty to the scheme will also be sentenced on August 16 in Cedar Rapids. Morfitt says the three farmers, who are from Overton, Nebraska, also pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

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