September 15, 11

NEWS / Former Bookkeeper Indicted on $2 Million Fraud Charge

WICHITA, KS—William H. Nolan, 50, Wichita, Kan., former bookkeeper for Steckline Communications, Inc., is charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud in connection with the embezzlement of more than $2 million from the company.

The indictment alleges that while Nolan worked for Steckline, which was previously known as the Mid-America Ag Network, Inc., and Broadcast Technical Associates, Inc., he forged signatures on checks drawn on the company’s accounts to pay for credit card purchases totaling $863,924.50. He also caused electronic transfers to be made from the accounts of Steckline Communications, Inc., Mid-America Ag Network, Inc., and Broadcast Technical Associates, LLC, to pay for credit card purchases totaling $1,180,088.86.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Other Indictments

A grand jury meeting in Wichita, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Marcus D. Bishop, 33, Wichita, Kan., Sergio R. Little, 28, Wichita, Kan., and Tanina R. Anderson, 22, Wichita, Kan., are charged in a superseding indictment with one count of bank robbery. They are charged along with Willie J. Jackson, 27, who was charged earlier in a indictment filed Aug. 17.

The superseding indictment alleges that on Aug. 11, 2011, Jackson entered the Sunflower Bank at 2073 N. Webb in Wichita. He jumped over a desk to get behind the teller counter and demanded money. He grabbed money from the drawers and left the bank. While Jackson was in the bank, Bishop and Little were waiting in a car outside the bank. They all fled with the money. Prior to the robbery, Jackson, Bishop and Little had agreed to meet Anderson after the robbery. They met Anderson, abandoned the car used in the robbery and drove away in Anderson’s car.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Lynell C. Pool, 50, Chiloquin, Ore., is charged with 34 counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud. The indictment alleges Pool fraudulently received more than $284,000 in annuity payments from Security Benefit Life Insurance Company in Topeka, Kan. The payments were meant for her brother, Lee Pool, who died Feb. 26, 2007. The indictment alleges Lynell Pool fraudulently obtained the annuity payments after her brother’s death by providing false information to the insurance company.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

Edgar Francisco Martin Delcampo Esparza, 30, Luis Moreno-Hernandez, 39, Federico Ragazzone, 35, Luis Meza-Lazos, 34, Arnulfo Garcia, 24, and Juan Luis Perez-Olivarez, 30, are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 10, 2010, to Aug. 31, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

In addition, the indictment includes the following charges: Edgar Francisco Martin Delcampo Esparza is charged with one count of evading federal currency reporting requirements, one count of unlawfully transferring the proceeds of unlawful activities from the United States to Mexico, and eight counts of unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking. Luis Moreno-Hernandez is charged with one count of evading federal currency reporting requirements, and one count of unlawfully transferring the proceeds of unlawful activities from the United States to Mexico. Federico Ragazzone is charged with one count of evading federal currency reporting requirements, and one count of unlawfully transferring the proceeds of unlawful activities from the United States to Mexico. Luis Meza-Lazos is charged with one count of evading federal currency reporting requirements, one count of transferring the proceeds of unlawful activities from the United States to Mexico and two counts of unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking. Arnulfo Garcia is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Juan Luis Perez-Olivarez is charged with six counts of unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The government also is seeking the forfeiture of $311,715 seized from Federico Ragazzone on June 9, 2011.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

Conspiracy: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10,000. Evading currency reporting requirements: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000. Transferring the proceeds of unlawful activity: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000. Unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of four years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million. Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.

Alfred C. Dutton, 65, Eureka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of five incendiary bombs and one count of unlawful possession of eight grenades. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 23, 2011, in Greenwood County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Ahn Ngoc Dang, 34, and Thanh Ngoc Dang, 23, are charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiring to unlawfully produce an identification document, one count of unlawful production of an identification document, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit document fraud and one count of document fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2007 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

In addition, Ahn Ngoc Dang is charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft; and Than Ngoc Dang is charged with one count of misusing a U.S. passport and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges Thanh Ngoc Dang obtained a driver’s license in Kansas pretending to be his brother and using his brother’s name, date of birth and Social Security number. After Than Ngoc Dang obtained the driver’s license, he gave it to his brother, who was living in California.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: Conspiracy to unlawfully produce an identification document: a maximum penalty of five years without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Unlawful production of an identification document: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years to run consecutively to the underlying sentence and a fine up to $250,000. Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Conspiracy to commit document fraud: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000. Document fraud: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Misusing a U.S. passport: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.

The Kansas Department of Revenue - Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Anthonio A. Quach, 21, Wichita, Kan., and Eduardo L. Mora, 21, Wichita, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 17, 2011, in McPherson County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the marijuana charge, not less than five years and not more than life on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by users of a controlled substance.

The McPherson County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

Sergio Alvarez, 27, Wichita, Kan., Mario Alvarez, 26, a citizen of Mexico, and Mariano A. Herrera, 38, a citizen of Mexico, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In addition Alvarez is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a illegal alien. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million on each of the drug counts. The firearms charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Ezequiel Perez-Castro, 25, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Aug. 30, 2011, in El Dorado, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Mario Duque-Delgado, 24, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Aug. 25, 2011, in El Dorado, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Felipe Maldonado-Guizar, 21, Arkansas City, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 2, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.

Caresa Diaz, 32, Wichita, Kan., is charged with two counts of bank fraud and one count of using a counterfeit credit card. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from June 11, 2003 to Jan. 31, 2009, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on each of the bank fraud charges, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of using a counterfeit credit card. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.

Thomas Griffen, Jr., 20, Wichita, Kan., and Jordan Smith, 22, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition Jordan Smith is charged with six counts of wire fraud, and Thomas Griffen, Jr., is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2010 and 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of wire fraud. The Wichita Police Department investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

http://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2011/former-bookkeeper-indicted-on-2-million-fraud-charge

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