Federal grand jury indicts Willard businessman for pushing synthetic drugs

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Willard, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in a $1.9 million conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs through his business in Battlefield, Mo.

John Waddell, 49, of Willard, was charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. Waddell and his wife owned and operated Bilbo’s Earth Store at 4032 W. Lark, Suite #F in Battlefield under their company Johrri Enterprises, LLC.

The federal indictment alleges that Waddell participated in a conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue in Greene County, Mo., from April 1, 2011, to Sept. 25, 2013. Waddell is also charged with maintaining a place in Battlefield, Mo., for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance analogue and with possessing several firearms in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Waddell was allegedly in possession of a Springfield Armory .40-caliber pistol, a Bersa 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory 9mm pistol.

The indictment also charges Waddell with one count of money laundering and two counts of structuring a currency transaction to evade reporting requirements.

The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Waddell to forfeit to the government any property obtained from the proceeds of the alleged violations or any property used to commit the alleged violations, including $1,928,204 (which represents the amount involved in the conspiracy); Waddell’s residential property in Willard; Waddell’s commercial property in Springfield; 83 electric, acoustic and bass guitars; a five-piece drum set; dozens of speakers and amplifiers; several guitar cases; three pistols; $32,271 seized from Waddell’s residence; a certificate of deposit in the amount of $100,000; $216,535 in the bank accounts of Johrri Enterprises, LLC, dba Bilbo's Earth Store, and $1,323 in Waddell’s bank account.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Hyde. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, COMET (the Combined Ozarks Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team), the Food and Drug Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Lamar school construction underway

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Portion of Barton County Route U closed Wednesday

(From MODOT)

Barton County Route U CLOSED

On Feb. 26 for Pipe Replacement

Where: Barton County Route U CLOSED between SE 80th and SE 90th Lanes east of Kenoma. When: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 What: Road closed to allow crews to replace a deteriorating drain pipe underneath the road. Traffic Impacts: Drivers will have access to driveways on either side of the closing, but will not be able to travel through the work zone.  Drivers are urged to find an alternate route during the closing. Weather and/or work scheduling conflicts could postpone the project. Follow MoDOT's Southwest District: Facebook: MoDOT.Southwest, Twitter: MoDOT_Southwest and Google+: +MoDOT/Southwest District

Portion of Route A in Barton County to be closed Tuesday

(From MODOT)

Barton County Route A CLOSED

On Feb. 25 for Pipe Replacement

Where: Barton County Route A CLOSED between NE 20th and NE 30th Roads east of Lamar. When: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25   What: Road closed to allow crews to replace a deteriorating drain pipe underneath the road. Traffic Impacts: Drivers will have access to driveways on either side of the closing, but will not be able to travel through the work zone.  Drivers are urged to find an alternate route during the closing. Weather and/or work scheduling conflicts could postpone the project. Follow MoDOT's Southwest District: Facebook: MoDOT.Southwest, Twitter: MoDOT_Southwest and Google+: +MoDOT/Southwest District

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Informational meeting on Affordable Care Act set for Feb. 25 in Anderson

(From University of Missouri Extension)

 Do you have questions about the Affordable Care Act? Are you wondering how the Affordable Care Act will affect you and your community? If so, make plans to attend an informational session about the new health care law that can help families, individuals and businesses understand their options and responsibilities.

 

University of Missouri Extension, in partnership with Freeman Health System, will host, “Affordable Care Act:  What Individuals Need to Know.” The program will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 25 in the First Baptist Church, 1 Friendship Lane, Anderson.

 

The session is free and open to the public. It is part of MU Extension’s Health Insurance Education Initiative.  Child care will be available, provided by McDonald County High School students.  Snacks will be provided by the Alliance of Southwest Missouri.

“The Health Insurance Education Initiative will help Show-Me State citizens understand their health insurance options and learn how to get help in their own communities if they choose to enroll in Missouri’s health insurance marketplace,” said Brenda Procter, associate professor of consumer and family economics for MU Extension.

A new website, at http://extension.missouri.edu/insure, provides educational materials and links to information. There is a map of Missouri educators who can provide local workshops and a calendar where you can learn about upcoming events near you.

“The website is a one-stop source for factual, unbiased information about the changes in health insurance that are required by the new law,” Procter said.

MU Extension’s Health Insurance Education Initiative website will also provide resources for the state’s small businesses, including information about tax credits for offering insurance to employees and explanations of rules that might affect their bottom line, she said.

 

For more information, contact the McDonald County Extension Center at (417) 223-4775.

 

For 100 years, MU Extension has engaged Missourians in relevant programs based on University of Missouri research. The year 2014 marks the centennial of the Smith-Lever Act, which formalized the Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service, a national network whose purpose is to extend university-based knowledge beyond the campus.

 

University of Missouri Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of Missourians. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything. More information on this topic is available online at http://extension.missouri.edu.

Springfield man pleads guilty to moving to Thailand to avoid paying child support

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a former Kansas City, Mo., man who has been living in Thailand pleaded guilty in federal court to fleeing the United States in 2007 to avoid paying child support.

Randy Lee Essary, 60, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014. Essary was a resident of Chon Buri, Thailand, where he was employed as the senior vice president of development for Eclipse Hotels and Development, which is based in Manila, Philippines and in Hong Kong.

By pleading guilty, Essary admitted that he has failed to pay any court-ordered child support for his son for more than eight years, since January 2005. Essary owes $164,891 in child support.

Essary was a resident of Missouri in 1996. On Feb. 9, 1996, the Jackson County Circuit Court ordered him to pay $1,500 in monthly child support payments for his son, who currently resides with his mother in Utah.

Essary’s last documented entry into the United States and exit thereafter was on Sept. 12, 2007, to attend his daughter’s wedding in Illinois. Essary did not fly directly into the United States for the wedding. Instead, Essary flew from Thailand or the Philippines to Canada. Border crossing records confirm Essary then walked across the border from Canada into the United States at Blaine, Wash. He returned to Thailand in the same manner – by walking across the border at Canada and flying back to Thailand.

Essary was arrested at LAX airport when he returned to the United States on Feb. 22, 2012.

Under federal statutes, Essary is subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Pansing Brown. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

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Springfield Police put emergency status into effect

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Due to impending winter road conditions and available resources, the Springfield Police Department has placed accident response in “Emergency Status”.  When emergency status is in effect, citizens reporting motor vehicle accidents will be instructed to make a walk-in accident report if the following conditions exist:

-    All vehicles involved are operable
-    The accident is non-injury
-    No alcohol/drug-impaired driver is involved

Springfield Police strongly encourage drivers to be attentive to their driving responsibilities during winter weather travel. This responsibility includes clearing all windows of ice and snow before driving; allowing greater distance from one vehicle to the next; steering and braking gently; driving the appropriate speed for the current conditions, which could be far less than the posted speed limits; and being prepared for the mistakes potentially made by other drivers.  Also, be especially cautious when traveling on bridges, which often freeze before the rest of the roadway.  

As soon as conditions allow, response to accidents will be returned to normal.

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