Springfield Archives

General

Springfield: Jason Whitehead Sentenced for Defrauding Companies

Springfield Man, Jason Whitehead Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Companies in Flexible Spending Account Scheme (STL.News) John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON WHITEHEAD, 42, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding multiple companies through a flexible spending account scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, Whitehead worked at PayFlex, a company that administered health care and dependent care spending accounts for corporate employees. PayFlex was acquired by Aetna Inc. in 2011. Whitehead worked at the PayFlex division until approximately August ...

Entertainment

Missouri Lottery: Michael O’Conner and Susan Johnson Claim $100,000

(STL.News) A Scratchers ticket worth $100,000 was sold recently at White Oak Station, 650 W. Kearney St., in Springfield. The “100X The Cash” ticket was claimed by Michael O’Conner and Susan Johnson, both of Springfield. “100X The Cash” is a $20 Scratchers ticket with more than $10.4 million in unclaimed prizes, including a top prize of $2 million and another second prize of $100,000. In the most recent fiscal year, Missouri Lottery players in Greene County won more than $45.3 million in prizes. Retailers in the county received more than $4.3 million in commissions and bonuses, and more than $22.4 million went to educational programs in the county. For a detailed list of programs that benefited, visit MOLottery.com.

General

Springfield: Evan Taylor Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

Springfield Man, Evan Taylor Indicted for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of Children SPRINGFIELD, Il (STL.News) An initial trial date of Feb. 2, 2021, has been scheduled for a Springfield, Ill., man, Evan Taylor, 24, indicted on federal child pornography charges last week. Taylor, of the 2000 block of Claremont Dr., made his initial appearance on Dec. 21, via video conference in federal court in Springfield. Taylor was arrested on Dec. 18, and was ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing scheduled on Dec. 28. The indictment charges Taylor with sexual exploitation of a child for allegedly victimizing minors from August 2018 to May 2020. Taylor is also charged with distribution of pornographic images of children; travel with intent to engage ...

Politics

Missouri Creates Partners to Learn More About COVID-19 in K12 Schools

CDC Partners to Arrive in Springfield and St. Louis This Weekend Jefferson City, MO (STL.News) Today, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partners will arrive in the Springfield and St. Louis areas this weekend to assist local schools and public health officials in reviewing current public health measures and support efforts to provide a safe school environment. “From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of keeping our students in school not only for their education but also for their safety, health, and well-being,” Governor Parson said. “Schools that consistently implement mitigation strategies remain among the safest places for students, which is why we have continually encouraged schools to put these strategies i...

Business

Simmons Bank Appoints Christian Lewis as Regional Community President

Christian Lewis Named Simmons Bank Regional Community President of Southwest Missouri SPRINGFIELD, MO (STL.News) Simmons Bank recently announced Christian Lewis as the new regional community president to lead the southwest region of Missouri. With more than a decade of banking experience, Lewis most recently served as a regional small business administration (SBA) credit officer for Simmons Bank after receiving a promotion in 2019. Lewis began his career as a credit analyst with Liberty Bank in 2011 and became a commercial lender in 2012. Following Simmons Bank’s 2015 acquisition of Liberty Bank, he continued to serve as a commercial loan officer and was promoted to a regional SBA banker in 2016 managing lending in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. “Simmons Bank is proud to promote Chr...

General

Springfield, Mo: Jury Convicts Roy L. Norey of Illegal Firearm

(STL.News) – A Springfield, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing a firearm. Roy L. Norey, 38, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Evidence during the trial indicated that Norey was in possession of an AA Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on Jan. 3, 2019. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Norey has prior felony convictions for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number. Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Norey’s apart...

General

Springfield, Ill: Election Officers Designated in Central District of Illinois

(STL.News) – U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser announced today the appointment of District Election Officers in the Central District of Illinois in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. Assistant U.S. Attorneys appointed to serve as election officers in each of the district’s four divisions include: Gregory M. Gilmore in the Springfield headquarters office; David H. Hoff in the Urbana branch office; Darilynn J. Knauss in Peoria; and, John K. Mehochko in Rock Island. District election officers are responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department headquarters. The Department of Justice has an important role ...

General

Springfield, Ill: Tarnavis A. “Bonnie” Lee and three others Chicago Women Indicted

Springfield, Ill: Tarnavis A. “Bonnie” Lee and three others Chicago Women Indicted for Allegedly Defrauding Child Care Subsidy Program of More Than $1 Million (STL.News) – A grand jury has returned indictments that charge four Chicago women with allegedly defrauding a government child care subsidy program intended to provide affordable child care to eligible parents. Each woman owned and operated a licensed day care in Chicago that allegedly submitted false claims for payment for child care services that were not provided or were not provided to the extent charged. As a result of the alleged schemes, the estimated loss to the government is more than $1 million. The Illinois Department of Human Services administers the Child Care Assistance Program with state funds and block grants provi...

General

Springfield, Mo: Former Teacher Curtis J. Baldwin Pleads Guilty

Springfield, Mo: Former Teacher Curtis J. Baldwin Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Student | USAO-WDMO (STL.News) – A Springfield, Missouri, man who worked as a teacher in China has pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually exploiting one of his former students by attempting to blackmail her into sending him pornographic images. Curtis J. Baldwin, 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Monday, Oct. 5, to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Baldwin worked as an English language teacher in China for EF Education First. Baldwin left his employment at EF Education First China School on Nov. 20, 2019. After he returned to Springfield, he contacted a 12-year-old former student, id...

Missouri

MO Lottery: Springfield Man James Adams Wins $50,000 Powerball Prize

MO (STL.News) James Adams’ luck took a turn for the better after he won $50,000 in the Sept. 16 Powerball drawing by matching four white-ball numbers, as well as the Powerball number drawn. Adams had hurt his back and had been off work for a week when he purchased the winning ticket at Rapid Roberts, 1840 S Campbell Ave., in Springfield. “I just had a couple Quick Picks,” Adams said, recalling the moment he realized he had won. “I just went into a gas station and said, ‘Can you check this?’ The young lady was like, ‘Wait a minute. It says Claim at the Lottery! and a dude came up behind her and said ‘Hey, man. You just won $50,000!’” “It was exciting! I was excited! I’m still excited!” Adams laughed. The winning numbers, which Adams notes he didn’t even know until he won, were 10 17...

General

Springfield, Mo; Ronald A. Stone Sentenced to 20 Years for Meth Conspiracy

(STL.News) – A Springfield, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. Ronald A. Stone, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Friday, Sept. 25, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On May 16, 2019, Stone pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene County, Missouri, from March 30 to Aug. 30, 2017. Stone also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine to distribute and to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Stone’s residence on March 30, 2017, and seized a Hi Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Crown Royal bag that contained rounds of 9mm ammunition, and...

General

Springfield, Mo; Former Everton City Clerk Kristy A. Conn Sentenced to 10 Years

Springfield, Mo; Former Everton City Clerk Kristy A. Conn Sentenced to 10 Years for Money-Laundering Conspiracy (STL.News) – The former city clerk in Everton, Missouri, has been sentenced in federal court for her role in a money-laundering conspiracy related to methamphetamine trafficking. Kristy A. Conn, 46, of Everton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. “This defendant was placed in a position of trust and responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, “but chose to poison her community by enabling violent criminals to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri.” “This sentencing shows there are consequences to criminal behavior,” said Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent...

General

Springfield, Mo; Forsyth Sex Offender Timothy Wayne Carnelison Jr. Sentenced

Forsyth Sex Offender Timothy Wayne Carnelison Jr. Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Pornography | USAO-WDMO (STL.News) – A prior sex offender in Forsyth, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court today for receiving and distributing child pornography. Timothy Wayne Carnelison Jr., 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 20 in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carnelison to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. Carnelison will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. Carnelison, who was sentenced as a prior sex offender, has two prior convictions for statutory sodomy i...

General

Springfield, MO; Amanda Errin Hunt and New Jersey Man Sentenced to 18 Years

Springfield, MO; Amanda Errin Hunt and New Jersey Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Producing Child Pornography | USAO-WDMO (STL.News) – An El Dorado Springs, Missouri, woman and a North Plainfield, New Jersey, man were sentenced in federal court today for producing child pornography. Amanda Errin Hunt, 41, and Daniel Thomas Baggott, 38, each were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 18 years and four months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hunt and Baggott to spend the rest of their lives on supervised release following incarceration. They will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout their lives. On Oct. 21, 201...

General

Springfield, Mo; Travis W. Robinson Sentenced to 14 Years for Meth Conspiracy

(STL.News) – A Sparta, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Christian County, Mo. Travis W. Robinson, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 14 years in federal prison without parole. On March 11, 2020, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute on premises in which a minor resides. Robinson came to the attention of law enforcement in August 2016 as a distributor of methamphetamine in the southwest Missouri area. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Robinson’s residence and seized approximately 47.32 grams of methamphetamine, $7,628, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. At the time the...

General

Springfield, Mo; Former Paramedic James Poole Pleads Guilty

Springfield, Mo; Former Paramedic James Poole Pleads Guilty to Stealing, Diluting Ambulance Drugs | USAO-WDMO (STL.News) – A former emergency medical technician at Mercy Medical Center pleaded guilty in federal court today to stealing fentanyl and hydromorphone from dozens of vials used by ambulances in Carthage and Mount Vernon, Missouri, and replacing the drugs with saline or water solution. “A former paramedic abused his position of trust by stealing and diluting drugs that were meant to ease the pain of those he was responsible to aid in an emergency,” Garrison said. “He should rightly be held to a high standard, and will be held accountable for his criminal actions.” “The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that they are safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper wi...

General

Springfield, Mo; Travis W. Robinson Sentenced to 14 Years for Meth Conspiracy

(STL.News) – A Sparta, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Christian County, Mo. Travis W. Robinson, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 14 years in federal prison without parole. On March 11, 2020, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute on premises in which a minor resides. Robinson came to the attention of law enforcement in August 2016 as a distributor of methamphetamine in the southwest Missouri area. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Robinson’s residence and seized approximately 47.32 grams of methamphetamine, $7,628, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. At the time the...

Politics

Illinois Gov. Pritzker Celebrates Testing Records as State Surpasses 5 Million Tests, Reports 74,000 in a Single Day

Springfield, IL (STL.News) At an event in Springfield, Governor JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike celebrated the state surpassing 5 million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic. The governor and Dr. Ezike also detailed how the state continues to strengthen its nation-leading testing operation as Illinois continues to set new records in daily tests. "In a pandemic, widely available testing and faster results mean our people are safer," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Here in Illinois, we've steadily added new in-state commercial labs and greater hospital and university lab capacity utilization to get to an average of more than 50,000 tests per day. We do three and a half times the testing the average state does. And we're one of the fastest states in delivering te...