U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison Archives

Missouri lawmaker under federal indictment is asked to resign by House Speaker

February 4, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House Speaker is asking a fellow GOP House member to resign her seat, after she was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for an alleged stem cell fraud scheme. The indictment was unsealed and made public on Monday.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announces a 20-count federal indictment against Rep. Tricia Derges on February 1, 2021 in Springfield (photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s office)

House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, announced Wednesday that he’s removed State Rep. Tricia Derges, R-Nixa, from all committee assignments.

“After speaking with her and with the caucus, I am asking her to resign her seat with the House. The legal process will ultimately determine her guilt or innocence, but this is clearly a time for her to spend with her family as she focuses on her legal issues, and for the people of the 140th district (in southwest Missouri’s Christian County) to move forward with selecting a replacement who can effectively advocate for their interests,” Speaker Vescovo says, in a written statement.

As for Representative Derges, she remains in the Missouri House. Missourinet contacted her office for a response to Speaker Vescovo’s statement, and she hadn’t responded by this posting.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced the 20-count federal indictment during a Monday press conference in Springfield.

“This defendant abused her privileged position to enrich herself through deception,” U.S. Attorney Garrison told reporters on Monday. He also notes the indictment alleges she lied to her patients and to federal agents.

Federal prosecutors say the investigation started “as a result of false or misleading statements” made by Derges in April 2020 to a Springfield television station, about her potential use of stem cells to treat COVID-19.

The 63-year-old Derges was elected to the House in November. Garrison says she operates three Ozark Valley Medical Clinic locations in Springfield, Ozark and Branson.

Missouri lawmaker indicted in alleged $200,000 stem cell fraud scheme

February 1, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

A federal grand jury has indicted State Representative Tricia Derges, R-Nixa, for allegedly selling fake stem cell treatments at medical clinics she operates in southwest Missouri’s Springfield, Branson, and Ozark. A 20-count federal indictment unsealed today accuses Derges of marketing the “treatments” that turned out to be sterile amniotic fluid.

Rep. Tricia Derges

A press release from U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison’s office says Derges was giving the fluid to patients who suffered from, among other things, tissue damage, kidney disease, COPD, Lyme disease, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence. The investigation began after she gave false or misleading statements last April to a Springfield television station about potentially using stem cells to treat COVID-19.

She is accused of scheming patients from 2018 to 2020, illegally prescribing narcotics, and lying to federal agents.

Derges, who is a licensed assistant physician, was elected to the Missouri House last November.

Don Ledford with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri tells Missourinet Derges had an initial court appearance Monday and was released.

To view the indictment, click here.

Her Missouri House biography says Derges was named the Springfield Humanitarian of the Year in 2018.

Spring trial set for mid-Missouri “highly toxic poison” case

January 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

An April trial has been scheduled in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City for a mid-Missouri man who’s accused of trying to purchase a “deadly chemical.”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Tim Garrison (2018 file photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s website)

44-year-old Jason William Siesser’s trial is set to begin on April 20 at the Christopher Bond U.S. Courthouse in Jefferson City. U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced charges against Siesser in August 2018, saying Siesser allegedly tried to purchase a highly toxic poison over the internet to use as a chemical weapon.

The U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman, Don Ledford, tells Missourinet that Siesser remains in federal custody. Siesser lived in Columbia, when he was arrested.

Garrison says federal agents became alerted to Siesser during an undercover FBI investigation. Siesser is charged in federal court with one count of attempting to possess a chemical weapon.

“There is no allegation in the charging document, that any sort of public attack was planned,” Garrison said in 2018, when the charges were announced. “Federal agents maintained safeguards from the time they were alerted to a potential threat during an undercover FBI investigation, to the controlled delivery of a safe, inert substance to the residence in Columbia.”

Federal prosecutors have not specifically said what the chemical is, except that it’s a highly toxic poison “capable of causing death in minute quantities.” The federal affidavit alleges Siesser purchased enough of the substance to be capable of killing about 300 people.

Court documents say Siesser signed for a package in August 2018, a package he allegedly believed contained the chemical he had ordered online. The court documents say Siesser acknowledged to the seller that he understood the chemical was lethal. Federal prosecutors say the package actually contained an inert substance.

The 11-page criminal complaint from federal prosecutors said that at the time of the 2018 arrest, Siesser was employed by a group home that houses juveniles under contract with the state of Missouri.

The complaint filed by prosecutors in 2018 also quoted Siesser as allegedly telling someone that he wanted to be an assassin, and wanted to kill those who have wronged him in the past.

The FBI raided Siesser’s Columbia home in 2018, and court documents say writing found inside the home “articulated heartache, anger and resentment over a breakup and a desire for the unidentified cause of the heartache to die.”

The court document quoted one of the writings as stating, in part: “But it makes me feel so strong I dream about your ending you burn up in flames. You suffocate on your own blood your soul completely drained. Right now your (sic) happy but that won’t last. My anger is coming and you won’t die fast!”

The federal affidavit says Siesser also wrote fictional stories about men trying to exact vengeance on ex-girlfriends. Court documents say that in one story, Siesser allegedly wrote about a man locking a woman in scuba gear in a submerged box so she would die when her oxygen tank was depleted.

The FBI and Columbia Police investigated the case.

Federal operation helps Kansas City crack down on violent crime

December 18, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

A law enforcement operation launched today to fight violent crime in seven of America’s most violent cities includes Kansas City. In a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri, it says “Operation Relentless Pursuit” involves a surge in federal aid, including more gun tracing information, equipment, agents and officers and federal grants to hire new officers.

Federal operation helps Kansas City crack down on violent crime

During a press conference today in Michigan, U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr pledged to intensify federal law enforcement resources in Kansas City.

“Americans deserve to live in safety,” said Barr. “And while nationwide violent crime rates are down, many cities continue to see levels of extraordinary violence. Operation Relentless Pursuit seeks to ensure that no American city is excluded from the peace and security felt by the majority of Americans, while also supporting those who serve and protect in these communities with the resources, training, and equipment they need to stay safe.”

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in the Western District of Missouri and U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister in Kansas, along with the federal law enforcement heads based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, announced their participation.

“Kansas City, which has been wracked by too much violence for too long, is participating in this national initiative to focus more federal law enforcement resources where they are needed most,” Garrison said. “Operation Relentless Pursuit will deploy more agents and officers with additional resources to confront the epidemic of violent crime in our community. The very name of this operation – Relentless Pursuit – is a warning to violent criminals: We will not stop until you are behind bars.”

Missouri Attorney General Schmitt support the enhancements to fight crime.

“The fact that Kansas City consistently ranks in the top 15 most dangerous cities in the country is unacceptable, and our citizens deserve better – they deserve to feel safe in the communities they live in,” says Schmitt.

St. Louis and Springfield are not included in the operation.

Parson to discuss violence with large city mayors and police chiefs at Missouri Capitol

November 24, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The mayors and police chiefs of Missouri’s four largest cities will be in Jefferson City Monday morning to meet with Governor Mike Parson (R). They’ll be discussing crime and other issues.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (center) meets with Columbia Mayor Brian Treece, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and Springfield Mayor Ken McClure on October 18, 2019 in Springfield (file photo courtesy of KSGF’s Bailey Strohl)

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and their four respective police chiefs will travel to the Missouri Capitol to meet with the governor behind closed doors.

Crime and violence will be a main topic, but they’re also expected to discuss issues like jobs as well. Governor Parson will hold a 12:15 p.m. Statehouse press briefing with Capitol reporters, and will be joined by the mayors and chiefs.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison has noted that St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield are three of the top 15 most violent cities in the nation. Governor Parson met with the four mayors in October in Springfield, and reiterated that the violent crime issue will take a coordinated effort among federal, state and community leaders.

Governor Parson has sent state troopers to St. Louis to patrol interstates, and supports working with churches to help prevent violence. He’s traveled to several churches in St. Louis, to meet with pastors.

The governor has also met with members of Missouri’s Legislative Black Caucus, which supports legislation allowing cities with high gun violence to approve their own gun control legislation.

State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove, D-Kansas City, has told Missourinet that gun violence is ravaging the streets, noting that Kansas City and St. Louis have consistently ranked in the top ten deadliest cities for at least a decade.

Kansas City Police say there have been 131 homicides there in 2019, up from 120 last year. State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, notes that at least 13 children have been killed in St. Louis city shootings in 2019.

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.

Missouri senators expected to hold lengthy hearing Monday about gun violence

November 2, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri Senate committee studying gun violence is expected to hear several hours of testimony Monday in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, speaks at the Statehouse in Jefferson City on May 10, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea)

The chairman of the newly-formed Senate Interim Committee on Public Safety is expecting a lengthy hearing at the Statehouse. The committee meets Monday morning at 10, and chairman State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, tells Missourinet each of the seven senators on the committee has invited witnesses from different backgrounds and expertise.

U-S Attorney Tim Garrison has noted that St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield are three of the top 15 most violent cities in the nation, on a per capita basis.

Chairman Libla says it’s time for the senators to put their minds together and get some direction on the gun violence issue.

Republicans have a 4-3 majority on the committee, and State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, has praised Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, for forming the committee. She hopes it will come up with a blueprint to reduce the violence.

Senator Nasheed, who serves on the committee, describes increasing gun violence as a public health crisis.

“I want those individual experts to be able to come in and talk about what are the legislative best practices that we can push to help reduce the type of violence that we’re seeing in our community,” Nasheed says.

At least 13 children have been killed in St. Louis city shootings in 2019, and there have been 122 homicides in Kansas City this year. In mid-Missouri’s Columbia, there were five murders in September.

Senator Nasheed, who successfully pushed Schatz to create the committee, looks forward to a productive interim committee. She tells Missourinet the violence is “plaguing” inner cities and outstate.

“I look forward to a plan in terms of legislation so that we can be able to curb this gun violence in the city of St. Louis, Kansas City and throughout the state of Missouri,” says Nasheed.

The committee is expected to come up with recommendations by December, for the 2020 legislative session that begins in January.

Missouri’s governor emphasizes importance of protecting crime witnesses

October 21, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says one of the keys to reducing violent crime is protecting witnesses, saying some of them are afraid to come forward.

Governor Mike Parson (R) made his comments after meeting with mayors of four large Missouri cities on Friday in Springfield. Parson addressed reporters, after meeting with Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and Columbia Mayor Brian Treece.

“How do you give the resources for somebody to be safe. You know, how do you get a witness that’s willing to come forward and testify and to make sure that we’re going to protect them,” Parson says.

The governor says he and the mayors agree on this issue, adding that it’s a priority.

“Because the reality of it is in some of these neighborhoods in some of the areas where this is happening, people don’t want to come forward because they’re afraid,” says Parson. “And we’ve got to figure out how you make them safe, before we do anything.”

Governor Parson is traveling to Kansas City to meet Tuesday afternoon with State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, and Kansas City-area pastors about crime and economic development. Brown, the ranking Democrat on the Missouri House Special Committee on Tourism, told Capitol reporters during the September special session that August homicides in the Power and Light and 18th and Vine Jazz districts have hurt businesses in Kansas City.

Parson will also meet separately Tuesday afternoon with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas about crime and other issues, including jobs.

Kansas City Police say there have been 121 homicides this year.

St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia and Springfield mayors to discuss crime with Governor Parson

October 17, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The mayors of four large Missouri cities will be in southwest Missouri’s Springfield on Friday morning to have a closed-door meeting with Governor Mike Parson about crime and violence in their communities.

State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on September 10, 2019. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, is at right (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Parson (R) will meet with Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. They’ll meet Friday morning from 10:30 until 11:15, and then they’re expected to come out of the meeting and address reporters.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison has told Missourinet that Missouri has three of the top 15 most violent cities in the nation, on a per capita basis. Those three cities are St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. Garrison told that to then White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly last July, and Garrison says Kelly was “floored.”

Governor Parson told Capitol reporters in September that the violent crime issue will take a coordinated effort among federal, state and community leaders.

“This will never be fixed by one agency. It won’t. It’s going to take a lot of people a long time to try to fix this problem,” Parson said that day.

Kansas City Police say there have been 118 homicides in 2019, and five of them were children.

During last month’s special session, State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, told Capitol reporters that the time for action is now, adding that God wants state lawmakers to take action instead of praying.

“In Kansas City in the month of August, we had a double homicide in the Power and Light district. A patron was shot and killed in the 18th and Vine Jazz District,” Brown said in September. He’s the ranking Democrat on the Missouri House Special Committee on Tourism, and says violent crime is hurting business in Kansas City.

During the special session, State Sen. Jamiliah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, noted at least 13 children have been killed in St. Louis city shootings in 2019. Senator Nasheed has called on the Senate to hold a hearing in St. Louis, where the parents of murdered children can testify. Nasheed has described the gun violence in her hometown as an epidemic.

In mid-Missouri’s Columbia, there were five murders during the month of September.

Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF will be outside of Friday morning’s meeting, and will talk to participants as they come out.