Kimberling City doctor pleads guilty, admits he didn't pay taxes

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

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kimberling City, Mo., man who worked as an emergency room physician pleaded guilty in federal court today to failing to file tax returns despite earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in income each year.

Phillip Edward Psaltis, 64, of Kimberling City, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges him with two counts of failing to file an income tax return.

Another Springfield man indicted for child porn

(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 Springfield, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Jarod “Bull” Michel, 31, of Springfield, was charged in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Michel’s arrest and initial court appearance.

The federal indictment alleges that Michel received and distributed child pornography over the Internet between July 18, 2013, and May 20, 2014.

According to court documents, Michel’s computer was identified by two separate law enforcement agencies conducting independent undercover investigations concerning the distribution of child pornography using peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Investigators allegedly downloaded several videos of child pornography that were being shared over the Internet by Michel’s computer.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Michel to forfeit to the government any property used to commit the alleged offense, including a laptop computer.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI.

Springfield man indicted on child porn charge

(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 Springfield, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for using a minor to produce child pornography.

Tyler Coons, 23, of Springfield, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Coons’s arrest and initial court appearance.

The federal indictment alleges that Coons used a minor, identified as “Jane Doe #1,” to produce child pornography between Jan. 1 and June 20, 2014. Coons is also charged with one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

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 Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Springfield man sentenced for crack cocaine, weapons charges

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

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing crack cocaine and a firearm.

Ulysses Johnson, 37, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On April 7, 2014, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. An undercover Springfield police officer purchased crack cocaine from Johnson on three separate occasions in December 2011 and January 2012. Officers executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence on Jan. 18, 2012, and found a loaded FIE Tanfoglio .22-caliber revolver in the nightstand of the master bedroom, a partial box of .357-caliber and .22-caliber ammunition the hallway bathroom and a large bag that contained 12.64 grams of crack cocaine, divided into eight smaller individual baggies, hidden in an oven mitt in the kitchen. Johnson was placed under arrest.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition. Johnson has prior felony convictions for aggravated robbery and taking a driving a vehicle without consent, two prior felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and two prior felony convictions for possession of THC.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Cindy Hyde. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.