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Show-Me State Times

Thursday, May 2, 2024

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Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and SLMPD Joint Statement on Planned Protest at St. Louis University

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released a joint statement regarding the planned protest at St. Louis University's campus scheduled for this evening.In the statement, they acknowledged the protest, stating, "The Jones Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are aware of a protest planned on St. Louis University's (SLU) campus this evening." They also emphasized their commitment to upholding the right to peaceful assembly, with Mayor Jones and SLMPD stating, "Mayor Jones and SLMPD unequivocally express our...

By Show-Me State Times | May 1, 2024

Local Government

Darknet Vendor Who Sold Millions of Counterfeit Xanax Sentenced

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced Brandon Adams, 27, a man who sold millions of counterfeit Xanax pills on the Darknet, to 24 months in prison. Additionally, Adams was fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit nearly $1 million. He will also be on supervised release for three years following his prison term.Adams pleaded guilty to three felony counts, including conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance via the internet, conspiracy to sell misbranded/counterfeit drugs, and selling counterfeit drugs. He operated under the alias...

By Show-Me State Times | May 1, 2024

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Jefferson County Contractor Admits Aiding Financial Exploitation of Elderly Victim

By Show-Me State Times | May 1, 2024

Austin James, a man from Jefferson County, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to aiding in defrauding an elderly St. Louis woman out of more than $500,000. According to reports, James admitted to knowingly using the means of identification of another person to commit bank fraud and financial exploitation of the elderly.James confessed to aiding Gino Rives in exploiting the 80-year-old victim, who had hired Rives to renovate her home. Rives falsely claimed to be a licensed contractor and instructed the woman to write checks totaling over $550,000 for renovations on a property...

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Sex Offender Caught in Halfway House with Child Pornography Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 30, 2024

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a registered sex offender who was caught in a halfway house with child sexual abuse material to 15 years in prison.Eric Michael Swancutt, 46, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. A court-approved search of the phone uncovered child pornography and evidence that Swancutt had searched for child pornography, according to Swancutt's plea agreement.In 2017, Swancutt was sentenced in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis to 97 months in...

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Felon Caught with Guns and Pounds of Marijuana in St. Louis County Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 30, 2024

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who was caught with six kilograms of marijuana and two guns to 10 years in prison.Jamie Jeffrey, 47, of Eureka, California, was driving a 2008 Bentley when St. Louis County Police officers discovered the illicit items in his possession. According to reports, Jeffrey had a box containing bags of marijuana weighing approximately six kilograms, two pistols, and $1,030 in cash in his pants pocket at the time of the arrest.Jeffrey confessed to authorities that the marijuana found in his...

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Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Signs Automated Camera Enforcement Act Into Law

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 29, 2024

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has signed the "Automated Camera Enforcement Act" into law in St. Louis. The new law, also known as Board Bill 105 (Cohn), aims to enhance traffic safety in the city by implementing automated traffic control systems at critical locations to address traffic violence and hold reckless drivers accountable.In a video shared on social media, Mayor Jones emphasized the importance of safety for all residents, stating, "Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis." She highlighted the need for improved measures to ensure the well-being of...

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Attorney General Bailey Launches Tip Line for Victims of Jackson County Illegal Property Tax Assessments

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 29, 2024

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has taken a significant step in the fight against illegal property tax assessments in Jackson County by launching a tip line for affected victims. The move comes ahead of the trial scheduled for June, where Attorney General Bailey is set to challenge the county over its alleged unlawful actions.In a statement, Attorney General Bailey expressed his concerns about the impact of these actions on the residents, stating, "Missourians are already struggling to make ends meet in Joe Biden’s economy. For Jackson County...

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Senate committee weighs in on state budget

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 26, 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee has formulated a comprehensive $50 billion spending plan for the state of Missouri. This proposed budget encompasses funding for crucial business initiatives supported by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, such as enhancements to Interstate 44 and onshore semiconductor manufacturing.Senator Lincoln Hough of Springfield, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, has demonstrated a dedication to advancing Missouri’s future by emphasizing education, infrastructure, and workforce development.In response to the proposed...

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Local Government

Boeing-GKN Aerospace Deal Supports Hundreds of Jobs in St. Louis

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 26, 2024

Boeing announced today that it has closed a deal with GKN Aerospace St. Louis and its parent company, Melrose Industries, that will support Boeing’s F/A-18 and F-15 programs and will result in nearly the entire GKN St. Louis workforce, nearly 550 people, being hired by Boeing. In response to today’s announcement, Greater St. Louis, Inc. CEO Jason Hall expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This is a great win for Boeing as well as GKN St. Louis and their 550 employees. It is also a great win for the St. Louis metro and our advanced manufacturing sector."Hall further...

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Texas Man Admits Selling 1.4 Kilos of Methamphetamine to the DEA

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 26, 2024

ST. LOUIS – A man from Texas confessed to selling a substantial amount of illegal drugs to an undercover agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The individual, identified as Marco Chavira, not only admitted to selling 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine but also providing an additional kilogram of cocaine to the agent for distribution.Chavira, 35, from El Paso, Texas, acknowledged his actions in a hearing at the U.S. District Court in St. Louis. According to reports, Chavira believed the agent he met in El Paso was a courier who would transport the narcotics to...

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St. Louis Carjacker Sentenced to 105 Months in Prison

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 25, 2024

ST. LOUIS – A man involved in a 2022 carjacking incident has been sentenced to 105 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk. The sentencing took place on Thursday in relation to the case that unfolded on July 7, 2022, outside a Family Dollar store in Jennings.During the incident, the carjacker, identified as La’Vontray Hayes-Williams, brandished a handgun and demanded the vehicle from the driver by saying, "give me the car." Subsequently, he fled the scene with his girlfriend in a 2018 Nissan Sentra, triggering a high-speed chase that spanned nearly ten...

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St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 160 Months in Prison for Gun and Methamphetamine Possession

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 25, 2024

U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark handed down a significant sentence of 160 months in prison to Antwon Fulton, a convicted felon found in possession of a rifle and methamphetamine. Fulton, 33, from St. John, Missouri, was traveling as a passenger in a vehicle that caught the attention of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers due to its missing front license plate and expired temporary license tag on the rear.During the stop on May 6, 2021, a Chinese SKS semi-automatic rifle and a bag containing 27.05 grams of methamphetamine were discovered in the vehicle....

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Four Admit Bank Fraud Linked to Stolen Mail

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 25, 2024

Four individuals from Warren County, Missouri have recently pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a bank fraud scheme connected to the theft of mail, checks, and personal information. According to court proceedings, Elijah Briggs, Jessica Kirkpatrick, Reuben Kim, and Holly Naylor admitted their involvement in the criminal activities.Elijah Briggs, 42, confessed to three counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He acknowledged stealing mail and checks while working as a contractor, leading to financial losses for various victims. Jessica...

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Registered Sex Offender Admits New Child Sex Crime

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 24, 2024

"Joshua T. Wilson, 23, of Monroe County, Missouri," has pleaded guilty to a charge of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Wilson admitted to meeting a 16-year-old girl in the spring of 2022, engaging in sexual conversations and exchanging sexual images, and ultimately taking the teen to Kansas for unlawful sexual activity.Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Wilson, already a registered sex offender, faces a mandatory prison term of 10...

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Missouri Woman Admits Theft of Federal Retirement Benefits

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 23, 2024

A Missouri woman, Ronda G. Oswalt, has pleaded guilty to taking more than $75,000 in retirement benefits to which she was not entitled after the death of her mother-in-law. Oswalt, 58, of Marion County, near Hannibal, Missouri, admitted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money. She confessed to using the federal retirement benefits that continued to be deposited into her deceased mother-in-law's credit union account to cover personal expenses.According to Oswalt's guilty plea, she failed to notify the U.S. Office of Personnel...

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CEMA Announces Upgrades to Outdoor Warning Siren System and Expansion of NotifySTL Services

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 23, 2024

The City of St. Louis Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) has revealed plans to enhance the city's outdoor warning system with a substantial financial allocation of $3.9 million to replace and maintain the system. Commissioner of CEMA, Sarah Russell, emphasized the importance of reliability in the outdoor warning system, stating, "Ensuring the reliability of our outdoor warning system remains a top priority."To address concerns of inconsistent testing, CEMA is actively seeking to improve the system's ability to provide comprehensive coverage for emergency notifications....

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Hazelwood Company Owner Admits Contract Fraud

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 23, 2024

St. Louis – The owner of a steel company in Hazelwood, Missouri, Theodore J. "Ted" Stegeman, 60, has pleaded guilty to committing fraud during a repair project for a Mississippi River lock and dam. According to Stegeman's plea agreement, he admitted to falsely claiming that a part manufactured by his company passed safety tests during the project.Stegeman's company, Industrial Steel Fabrication LLC (ISF), was a subcontractor on a project to repair Lock and Dam No. 25 on the Mississippi River. The government emphasized the critical nature of the components fabricated by...

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St. Louis City Awarded Solar For All Federal Grant

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 22, 2024

Today, the City of St. Louis has been announced as one of the selectees to receive a significant federal grant through the Solar for All program. The Biden-Harris Administration's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that St. Louis is part of two coalition groups among 60 selectees set to benefit from a total of $7 billion in awards, aimed at delivering residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide.St. Louis was chosen to be a part of the Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority as well as the Industrial Heartland Solar...

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Attorney General Bailey’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Earns National Recognition for Effectiveness

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 22, 2024

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey proudly announced that the U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has awarded the state's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with the Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste and Abuse. The Unit's remarkable performance in 2023, with a staff of 19 individuals, resulted in 52 indictments, 23 convictions, and the recovery of over $10 million in restitution orders and settlements.Expressing his pride in the Unit's accomplishments, Attorney General Bailey stated, “I am extremely proud of the critical work our...

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St. Louis City Awarded Solar For All Federal Grant

By Show-Me State Times | Apr 22, 2024

St. Louis City Awarded Solar For All Federal GrantApr 22, 2024Today, the City of St. Louis has been selected to receive a total of $7 billion in awards through the Solar for All grant competition, as part of two different coalition groups among 60 selectees. The Biden-Harris Administration's Environmental Protection Agency announced the selectees on Earth Day, with the aim of delivering residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide.St. Louis was chosen to be a part of the Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority and the...