Lawrence County Route H closed north of Monett for storm cleanup

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Lawrence Co. Route H CLOSED North of Monett for Storm Clean Up Until Further Notice

Where: Lawrence County Route H between Lawrence County Road 2200 and Lawrence County Road 2220 north of Monett

When: Until further notice

What: Utility crews cleaning up after storms passed through the area this morning

Traffic Impacts

Route H CLOSED between Lawrence County Road 2200 and Lawrence County Road 2220

Watch for debris and downed power lines across the highway

Drivers will encounter barricades across the road where the highway is closed

Do not move or drive around barricades

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.

Branson Police investigating body found in woods near Lake Taneycomo

(From the Branson Police Department)

The Branson Police Department is conducting an investigation after responding to a call regarding a found body earlier today, in the woods near Lake Taneycomo. 

Upon arrival, officers secured the scene and immediately initiated an investigation. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest foul play.

As part of standard procedure, an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. This remains an active investigation, and we are committed to ensuring a thorough and respectful process.

Out of respect for the individual and their loved ones, no further details will be released at this time. Once identity is confirmed, and next of kin notified, the Taney County Coroner will release identity information.
We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience as we work through the investigative process.

Traffic delays expected at I-44 Exit 46 in Lawrence County

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Expect Traffic Delays at I-44 Exit 46 in Lawrence Co. for Pavement Repair

Where: Northbound Missouri Route 39-to-eastbound I-44 (Exit 46) on-ramp in Lawrence County at Mt. Vernon

When: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday, April 21

What: Contractor crews will repair ramp pavement

Traffic Impacts

Crews and equipment working close to traffic on northbound route 39-to-eastbound I-44 (Exit 46) on-ramp

Drivers urged to use caution traveling along the ramp

No signed detour

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

Drivers should find alternate routes

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

State audit documents missing money in Stone County Collector's office

(From State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick)

A new report released today by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick documents how a former employee in the Stone County Collector's Office failed to deposit more than $19,000 in county funds, and how $13,862 remains missing. The report, which gives the office a rating of "poor," also notes how lacking accounting controls and procedures in the office allowed the missing money to go undetected.

The audit was formally requested by the Stone County Commission after County Collector Anna Burk investigated the transactions of former employee Whitney Brown and presented her concerns to the commissioners. Burk became suspicious of Brown after a taxpayer presented a paid personal property tax receipt that was not recorded in the property tax system.

"I want to thank County Collector Burk and the Stone County Commission for bringing these issues to our attention and requesting this audit. We were able to confirm their suspicions that Whitney Brown was responsible for thousands of dollars in undeposited merchant license and property tax payments, and also found the Collector's Office needs to improve its procedures to ensure this type of activity can be quickly detected in the future," said Auditor Fitzpatrick. "The good news for taxpayers is that county officials have already moved to put our recommendations into place, which will greatly reduce the risk of fraud and abuse going forward. I also hope officials will continue to work with law enforcement officials to prosecute Whitney Brown and to make sure she pays restitution to the county."

From May 1, 2023, through March 15, 2024, former employee Whitney Brown receipted money totaling at least $19,049 that was not deposited. She also collected an additional $475 that was not recorded or deposited, but taxpayers presented stamped tax statements to show proof of payment. The audit notes that if other similar situations exist, additional money may be missing. Brown repaid $4,782 in March 2024, after the County Collector confronted her about missing receipts. Additionally, 2 taxpayers reissued missing checks totaling $1,060 to the Collector. As a result, $13,682 remains missing.

The audit also found significant weaknesses in the accounting controls and procedures used by the Stone County Collector's Office. These weaknesses resulted in money collected that was not properly receipted, recorded, and deposited. 

Specifically, the report found the County Collector did not perform a supervisory review of detailed accounting and bank records, and did not reconcile property taxes receipted to property tax deposits prepared by the employees or reconcile merchant licenses issued to merchant license fees collected. As a result, she did not detect the missing money noted in the report. Additionally, the County Collector did not ensure staff issued receipt slips and recorded all money received, and did not ensure all money received was disbursed appropriately, nor did she perform adequate bank reconciliations or prepare a monthly list of liabilities.

The audit report makes numerous recommendations to improve the accounting controls and procedures in the office and the County Collector indicated she has already implemented new procedures based on the recommendations.

The complete audit report of the Stone County Collector's Office is available here.

Springfield man sentenced to 30 years for fentanyl conspiracy

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

A Springfield, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for his leadership role in a large-scale drug-trafficking organization in southwest Missouri that resulted in the overdose deaths of at least two people.

Delante Leon Worsham, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 30 years in federal prison without parole.

On Jan. 29, 2024, Worsham pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Worsham admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Christian and Greene counties from Sept. 23, 2018 to Nov. 14, 2019.

During a Sept. 23, 2018, traffic stop in Springfield, Mo., law enforcement officers located 21.50 grams of fentanyl in Worsham’s vehicle. On Nov. 15, 2019, Worsham was arrested in Springfield with approximately $2,390 in cash and a golf-ball sized bag containing smaller bags of fentanyl totaling 30 grams. Worsham admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl from both incidents and that the money was proceeds from a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Worsham further admitted to “cutting” fentanyl with heroin and powdered sugar in order to maximize his profit.

According to court documents, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that Missouri was one of only nine states west of the Mississippi River with an age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths of more than 21.1 per 100,000 in 2020. Court documents also cite a widely reported analysis of CDC data by Families Against Fentanyl that fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death among adults between ages 18 and 45 in the United States.

Worsham is the eleventh defendant to be sentenced in this case, among 14 defendants who have pleaded guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Eatmon and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bourbon, Mo., Police Department, and the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Polk County sex offender sentenced to 30 years for child pornography

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

A Polk County, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing and distributing child pornography, and for being a registered sex offender at the time that crime was committed.

Merle Glenn Daniels, Jr., 46, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 20 years for his conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography, and 10 years for his conviction for being a registered sex offender at the time he committed the offense. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Daniels to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration.

Daniels has prior Greene County, Mo., convictions for statutory rape and statutory sodomy involving a 14-year-old victim, which require him to register as a sex offender.

On May 9, 2024, Daniels pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of child pornography and to being a registered sex offender at the time the crime was committed. Daniels admitted that he was a registered sex offender and used text messages to impersonate a minor so he could exchange sexually explicit texts, images, and videos with the minor victim in November and December of 2022.

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

Georgia man sentenced to 2 years for romance scam involving elderly victims

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

A Georgia man was sentenced in federal court for his role in an online romance scam with elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 24 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Obafemi to three years of supervised release following incarceration and ordered him to pay restitution of $311,520 to the victims of his crime.

On April 18, 2024, Obafemi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Obafemi admitted to his participation in a romance scam which targeted victims in Taney County, Mo., Northfield, Minn., and Bergen County, N.J., from June 2016 through at least March 2018.

The perpetrators of the romance scams used online communications to develop relationships with the victims. The scammers then began to request money from the victims for a variety of reasons, including business expenses, medical expenses, travel expenses, and food.

According to court records, the Taney County victim was contacted via Facebook by an individual claiming to be “Kevin Condon” in May 2016. Following several conversations by email, phone, and Facebook, “Condon” convinced the victim to send him money for expenses related to his overseas business project and various medical issues. Conspirators stole a total of $27,460 from the Taney County victim. “Condon” also attempted to convince the victim to deposit $40,000 into an account controlled by Obafemi, purportedly to pay a court in South Africa for his release from jail.

Obafemi conspired with the perpetrators to receive wire transfers from the victims, coordinating the necessary bank account information, the timing of transfers, and the transfer of funds across accounts. Obafemi received funds in his personal accounts as well as those of two businesses, EasyTickets, LLC, and Goeasy Logistics, LLC, which he owned and operated out of his Georgia residence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Northfield, Minn., Police Department.

Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its elder fraud enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).