Kimberling City man killed in accident on James River Road

A Kimberling City man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 10:23 p.m. Tuesday on James River Road in Kimberling City.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1991 Chevrolet Astro minivan driven by Steven L. Shook, 59, Kimberling City, traveled off the roadway and struck a tree.

He was pronounced dead at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday.

The fatality was the 35th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D. 

Mount Vernon woman indicted for conspiracy to purchase hundreds of lottery tickets with stolen credit cards

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

A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for leading a conspiracy to purchase nearly 2,000 lottery tickets with stolen credit cards.

Amy Young, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Young obtained stolen credit cards and led a conspiracy to use those stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets from a Phillips 66 Fuel Station in Joplin, Mo., between July 22 and Aug. 18, 2022. Young allegedly enlisted the help of others to contact the Missouri Lottery Commission to obtain cash prizes for any winning lottery tickets that were fraudulently purchased using stolen credit cards. They kept a portion of the money for themselves and turned over the rest of the money to Young.

According to the indictment, Young used stolen credit cards to purchase at least 1,957 Missouri Lottery tickets with a value of $62,082. Additionally, Young and her co-conspirators received $54,248 in cash prizes for the winning tickets purchased using stolen credit card numbers.

In total, between the fraudulent credit card transactions and the prize money fraudulently received, Young and her co-conspirators fraudulently received at least $116,330.

Today’s indictment charges Young with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud (related to the fraudulent purchase of $480 in lottery tickets with a stolen credit card on Aug. 18, 2022).

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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI.

Monett Police: Do you know these guys?

 

(From the Monett Police Department)

The Monett Police Department is trying to identify these two individuals who were involved in a burglary in Monett. 

The male subject has what appears to be tattoos on both forearms and his right calf. They appear to be driving a light blue or grey minivan, possibly a Kia Sedona. 

If you have any information on either of these subjects, contact the Monett Police Department at 417-235-4241 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-635-8477. 

Springfield, Willard residents indicted in cocaine conspiracy

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

Three southwest Missouri residents are among five defendants indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy after federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine while arresting two co-defendants in Texas.

Mario Jose Castillo, 55, of Springfield, Mo.; Christhian Eduardo Cruz-Pineda, 22, a citizen of Honduras residing in Springfield; Johnathan David Emerson, 47, a resident of Willard, Mo.; and Bryan Ramirez-Aguero, 33, a citizen of Honduras, and Erika Martinez Hernandez, 40, a citizen of Mexico, both residing in Grand Prairie, Texas, were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned on April 10, 2024. Today’s superseding indictment contains the same or similar charges as the original indictment, but increases the amount of cocaine allegedly distributed in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and lengthens the timeframe of the conspiracy to incorporate an additional drug seizure.

Federal agents arrested Ramirez-Aguero and Martinez Hernandez on April 11, 2024. At the time of their arrest for the original indictment, agents seized approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine and $145,123 from their residence. Today’s superseding indictment reflects that drug seizure.

The federal indictment alleges that all five of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Dec. 12, 2021, to April 11, 2024.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Castillo is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Castillo, Emerson and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo and Martinez Hernandez are charged together in one count of unlawfully using a telephone to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Castillo and Emerson are charged together in one count of money laundering.

Emerson and Cruz-Pineda are charged together in one count of possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Cruz-Pineda is charged with one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

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 Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Springfield sex offender sentenced to 15 years for child pornography

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

A Springfield, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography, which was discovered on his cell phone during an investigation into threats he made to a sheriff’s department employee.

Joshua Emanuel Wood, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wood to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.

On Dec. 12, 2023, Wood pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Wood is required to register as a sex offender due to his 2018 conviction of possessing child pornography. The investigation began when Wood left 41 threatening voice mail messages on May 29 and 30, 2022, for the employee of the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department who was in charge of registering sex offenders. The sex offender registrar reported those threats and law enforcement officers arrested Wood; the state felony charge related to this harassment is still pending.

Wood had a Google Pixel cell phone in his possession when he was arrested. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on the phone, including 107 images of child pornography, including depictions of infants being raped, as well as web searches for child pornography and visits to suspected child pornography websites. 

According to court documents, the forensic analysis of Wood’s cell phone demonstrated that he had been wiping his cell phone frequently, and the child pornography files had been received over a period of just a few days. Because he was regularly wiping his cell phone, it is difficult to know the extent of his involvement with child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Intersection of 97 and 37 in Pierce City to be closed

(From MoDOT)

Intersection of Missouri Route 97 and Route 37 closed for intersection improvements in Pierce City Beginning Tuesday, May 28

Where: Intersection of Missouri Route 97 (Elm Street) and Route 37 (Commercial Street) CLOSED for intersection improvements in Pierce City

When: Tuesday, May 28 until Wednesday, June 5

What: Contractor crews to upgrade and replace intersection to conform to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. This is part of a project to upgrade sidewalks along various routes in Christian and Lawrence Counties.

Traffic Impacts

Intersection of Missouri Route 97 (Elm Street) and Route 37 (Commercial Street) CLOSED in Pierce City

Drivers urged to find alternate routes

No signed detours are planned

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or scheduling conflicts could alter the work schedule.

Two Eagle Rock women suffer serious injuries in crash on 86

Three Eagle Rock residents were injured in a one-vehicle accident 2 p.m. today on MO 86 one mile east of Eagle Rock.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2016 Buick Envision driven by Dawna D. Headgepath, 67, Eagle Rock, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a sign and a guy wire for a pole.

Headgepath was airlifted to Cox South Hospital, Springfield, with serious injuries.

Two passengers, Lorrie A. Campbell, 52, and Viola D. Boggs, 69, both of Eagle Rock, were treated for serious and minor injuries, respectively, at Cox South. 

Three Branson men arrested for assault, woman in critical condition

(From the Branson Police Department)

On Sunday, May 5th, around 10:30 pm, Branson Police Officers received a report of a serious assault that had occurred at a camp in the area of Animal Safari Road and Fall Creek.

 
Responding officers found a female with critical injuries and immediately summoned emergency medical assistance from the Branson Fire Department and Taney County Ambulance. The victim, an adult female, was transported to a hospital in Springfield for life saving care. The victim remains in critical condition and it is too early for a long term prognosis.

 
Due to the seriousness of the assault, Branson PD mobilized its Detective Services personnel for the investigation. Teaming with patrol officers, Detectives were able to collect evidence and apprehend three suspects in the assault within hours of the initial call. These individuals were arrested and booked into the Taney County Jail on the following charges, which were filed by the Taney County Prosecutor's Office:

• Anthony G. Ambriz, 32, of Branson:
Assault 1st Degree - Serious Physical Injury or Special Victim
Armed Criminal Action

• Ethan C. Brodie, 31, of Branson:
Assault 1st Degree - Serious Physical Injury or Special Victim
Armed Criminal Action

• Conner L. Tuttle, 19, of Branson:
Domestic Assault, 1st Degree, Serious Physical Injury
Armed Criminal Action

This case remains an active investigation and the victim remains in Branson PD's thoughts and prayers. Any questions relating to charges should be directed to the Taney County Prosecutor.

Oklahoma prisoner sentenced for operating Greene, Polk County meth conspiracy from jail cell

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

An inmate of the Lawton Correctional Facility in Oklahoma has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene and Polk Counties while he was incarcerated.

Joshua A. Ramirez, 39, who has no legal address, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, May 7, to 26 years in federal prison without parole. Ramirez was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On Aug. 16, 2023, Ramirez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ramirez admitted that he facilitated large methamphetamine transactions from within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Ramirez utilized drug couriers to transport methamphetamine and collect proceeds from several co-conspirators in southwest Missouri and elsewhere. Ramirez used a source of supply in Juarez, Mexico.

According to court documents, Ramirez is responsible for the distribution of 907 kilograms of methamphetamine.







During the time of this drug-trafficking conspiracy, Ramirez was serving a state felony sentence in Oklahoma for distributing a controlled substance and waiting to be released and transferred to federal custody to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence in a separate and unrelated case for distributing a controlled substance in the Northern District of Texas.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado Springs, Mo., Police Department.

Springfield man sentenced for heroin conspiracy

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

A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Greene County, Mo.

James D. Elbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

On July 5, 2023, Elbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Elbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin in Greene County from Oct. 2, 2015, to Nov. 13, 2017. Elbert admitted that, on three separate occasions, he sold a total of 6.86 grams of heroin to a law enforcement undercover informant in Springfield.

Elbert is the ninth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark, Mo., Police Department.