Civil Rights Initiatives. A federal indictment is usually brief and plainly worded, listing where, when and how the defendant allegedly committed the felony offense. WICHITA, KAN. A federal grand jury in Wichita indicted a Kansas man on charges he defrauded federal, state, and local agencies of more than $450,000 in Slowing the Spread of Litigation: An Update on First Circuit COVID-19 Has Your Business Attorney Met Your Estate Planning Attorney? NLR does not answer legal questions nor will we refer you to an attorney or other professional if you request such information from us. Smith was indicted with an additional five charges of wire fraud and a charge of money laundering. In 2019, Nebraska contracted with Saint Francis to oversee its child welfare system. This list is non-exhaustive. Rev. Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Below are critical steps that you can take after being federally indicted: This step is the most important for your defense. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. Court documents also indicate he is a member of the Fourth and Long Foundation. Unless the defendant waives his or her right to a jury trial or works out a plea agreement with prosecutors, cases stemming from federal indictments are tried by juries. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wichita city, Kansas QuickFacts Wichita city, Kansas Table (a) Includes persons reporting only one race (b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories (c) Economic Census - Puerto Rico data are not comparable to U.S. Economic Census data KS Recently Opened Cases - United States Courts The invoice purported to be for marketing services and consulting work, which wasnt in the scope of his contract. In those states that do not use grand juries, prosecutors file a criminal complaint. The federal indictment must be returned by a duly convened grand jury. The federal indictment must be returned by a duly convened grand jury. At a grand jury proceeding (which is a secret and sealed process), the following may occur: (1) witnesses may testify; (2) individuals may be subpoenaed as witnesses; (3) documents may be subpoenaed; and (4) evidence is showed to the grand jury. No Thanks Your defense attorney can guide you in preparing yourself to maintain such composure. Court documents dont identify what government agency the employees worked for or where exactly the incident took place. Prosecutors say Smith approved invoices submitted by William Whymark that inflated the actual cost of providing IT services. New Evidence will be crucial to your defense, whether such evidence includes a comprehensive audit trail, supporting documentation for certain professional decisions, bank records, call records, witness testimony, etc. Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and advertisement practices by attorneys and/or other professionals. Subscribe DAO Deemed General Partnership in Negligence Suit over Crypto Hack, Prompting Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. French Insider Episode 21: Between Warring Giants: How European What Appellate Courts Are Missing About PAGA Standing After Viking New Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petition on Non-Refillable After May 15, 2023, PERMs Must Be Filed Via DOLs FLAG System, Applying for an Emergency or Urgent Expedited U.S. Passport, UFLPA Enforcement Remains Work in Progress. WICHITA, Kan. Troy Bong, 51, of Wichita, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (counts 1, 4, 7), three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 2, 5, 8) and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (counts 3, 6, 9). I had no idea that a federal indictment was so complicated! In addition, your attorney will advise you on your constitutional rights such as whether any evidence seized should be suppressed under the Fourth Amendment or whether you should claim your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Whymark mispresented his academic credentials, falsely claiming he held a PhD in marketing sciences from the University of Connecticut, according to the indictment. KS Court Schedule U.S. District Court of Kansas Recently Opened Cases Currently showing expanded information for the last 100 cases opened. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. The choice of a lawyer or other professional is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Press Releases FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation The indictments in U.S. TOPEKA A federal grand jury has indicted the former CEO and IT director of Saint Francis Ministries for scheming to defraud the foster care provider of at least $4.7 million in fake invoices. March 23, 2023. The criminal complaint is heard by a judge, who determines whether there is sufficient evidence against the accused to proceed with a trial. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The content and links on www.NatLawReview.comare intended for general information purposes only. WICHITA, KAN. A federal grand jury in Wichita indicted a Kansas man on charges he defrauded federal, state, and local agencies of more than $450,000 in COVID-19 business recovery funds. If a simple majority of a grand jury determines that it is strong enough, it returns a federal indictment, and the defendant faces further criminal proceedings. Two Wichita men indicted in Kansas for meth distribution Counts 4, 7: Not more than 40 years and not less than five years and a fine up to $5 million. TOPEKA A federal grand jury has indicted the former CEO and IT director of Saint Francis Ministries for scheming to defraud the foster care provider of at least $4.7 million in fake invoices. WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Authorities allege in a federal indictment that a man threatened to burn government employees with battery acid. Criminal investigations and prosecutions can lead to severe consequences such as jail time, criminal penalties, loss of liberty, and irreparable reputational harm. They were arrested January 2 during a car stop in Meade County, Kansas. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by the transmission of information between you and the National Law Review website or any of the law firms, attorneys or other professionals or organizations who include content on the National Law Review website. He received an annual salary of $164,000. Law enforcement and federal agents may try to contact you and are legally allowed to use your words against you. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. Indictment by grand jury is a protection granted to defendants in federal felony cases under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on presentment of a Grand Jury. Despite this, fewer than half of all U.S. states use grand juries in prosecuting felony cases. Under certain state laws the following statements may be required on this website and we have included them in order to be in full compliance with these rules. Capps also allegedly sent false and fraudulent documents to EmpriseBank to receive a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan. Several people were indicted Tuesday and Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Wichita in separate gun and drug cases, court records show. To view New Cases with less information and a shorter load time click here. An indictment is a formal accusation of charges against the defendant and is a pivotal tool used by the government. A grand jury in Wichita returned two indictments Tuesday charging federal gun crimes under the Justice Departments new initiative called Project Guardian, U.S. Each option is fact-intensive, and your attorney can help you decide which is the optimal path for you. A criminal investigation or prosecution can lead to severe consequences such as penalties and jail time. Federal authorities in February seized three of Whymarks bank accounts, with balances totaling about $700,000. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Federal Do not be afraid to ask questions to your attorney about the plan going further, your defense strategy, or any other issues. In federal cases, a grand jury is used to decide certain things throughout the legal process. State officials terminated that contract this past December, three years before its end date, saying Saint Francis failed to deliver on a number of obligations. The organization managed to stay afloat by receiving a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that it wasnt eligible for and never repaid. The Nebraska Examiner is a nonprofit, independent news source committed to providing news, scoops and reports important to our state. I am deeply concerned about the allegations contained in this indictment, Clark said. Lock After a complaint is filed, a federal grand jury, which is a panel of 16 to 23 ordinary citizens, secretly reviews evidence presented by the federal prosecutor, also known as the U.S. Attorney. 04.12.2023. WebWhat Is a Federal Grand Jury Indictment? The National Law Review is a free to use, no-log in database of legal and business articles. National Law Review, Volume XI, Number 40, Public Services, Infrastructure, Transportation, Pipeline Safety Act Preemption with Keith Coyle [Podcast], OFCCP Implements New Disability Self-Identification Form. When an individual is federally indicted, they are given an official charge that they committed the crime(s) alleged in the indictment. At a grand jury proceeding (which is a secret and sealed process), the following may occur: (1) witnesses may testify; (2) individuals may be subpoenaed as witnesses; (3) documents may be subpoenaed; and (4) evidence is showed to the grand jury. An official website of the United States government. District of Kansas | United States District Court He also used Saint Francis credit cards to pay for personal expenses, including cash withdrawals, clothing and jewelry. KS The complaint alleged they were stopped with more than 35 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 22 pounds of fentanyl. The drop down boxes below are for filtering the information for the selected date range. 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Signify North America Corporation (, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Esquibel, LLC et al (, INSCO Environmental, Inc. v. Pacific Environmental Group, LLC et al (, Horn v. Kansas, State of, Department of Revenue (, Atkins (ID 92931) v. Kansas, State of et al (, Affinity First Federal Credit Union et al v. National Credit Union Administration Board (. To: Note: Court schedules change frequently and often at the last minute. Saint Francis is the largest foster care contractor in Kansas, providing services for Wichita and the western two-thirds of the state. Statement in compliance with Texas Rules of Professional Conduct. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The case originated in Sedgwick County. WebThe Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas is an equal opportunity employer. The crimes are alleged to have occurred January 19, 2020 in Trego County, Kansas. Prosecutors said Whymark used the fraudulent payments from Saint Francis to purchase a $4 million home in Armonk, New York, plus luxury vehicles, jewelry and cash withdrawals. Nick also directs internal corporate investigations and he leads defense teams in whistleblower actions, corporate defense cases, as well as cases involving national security and elected officials. If convicted, they would face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years in federal prison, plus fines and restitution. agents more than traditional law enforcement officers. A locked padlock Whymarks $10 million IT project, combined with Smiths personal expenses and a severely underbid contract to provide foster care services in Nebraska, had pushed the faith-based nonprofit to the brink of insolvency. News FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation Smith denied being a business partner with Whymark, even though one of Whymarks companies had identified Smith as a business partner on its website. If the grand jury determines the prosecutors evidence to be insufficient, it returns "no bill," and the federal charge or charges are dismissed. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2020 in Sedgwick County, Kansas. I-9 Verification and Compliance: Navigating New Nuances Post-COVID, Foreign Sponsors Breaking Into The Us Renewables Market: Challenges And Solutions, Labor and Employment Update for Employers May 2023, Global Mobility Opportunities And Challenges: How To Navigate A Global Workforce. Count 1: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. U.S. District Court of Kansas Recently Opened Cases Currently showing last 100 cases opened NOTE: Clicking a case number below will open the case information Smith received a previously undisclosed $50,000 kickback disguised as an authorized invoice, the indictment said. Springfield Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Two Child Victims. Emails from the subcontractors show how many hours employees worked and what their wages were. A federal indictment, also called a bill of indictment or a true bill, is the written accusation that forms the basis for a felony criminal case in a United States federal court. The grand jurys indictment is prepared by the grand jury foreperson, who marks it a "true bill" and delivers it to the Federal Magistrate, or judge. Arizona man charged with smuggling diamonds through The American Rule Stands: Court Rejects Fee-Shifting Under Indemnity FTC Puts Almost 700 Advertisers on Notice That They May Face Civil USTR Releases 2023 Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property China Remains on Washington Signs Into Law an Act for Consumer Health Data Privacy: What you need Dont Look Twice, Its Alright The FCC Pulls Back the Curtain on Section 214 Moving Towards MOCRA Implementation: FDA Announces Industry Listening Session. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. Briefly, an attorney can explain the charges alleged against you, guide you on how your case is most likely to proceed through the federal process, and keep you up-to-date on new developments in your defense. It is frequently the second step in federal cases, which usually begin when a prosecutor files an initial complaint, also called an "information" or "accusation.". No attorney is listed for Vandenberg in online court record. Four individuals indicted with drug charges in Kansas - DEA Some indictments are sealed, or secret, meaning that they cannot be viewed by the public. Many are aware that an indictment is the initial step sought by the prosecutor in their effort to initiate a criminal prosecution. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2020 in Sedgwick County, Kansas. An attorney would be responsible for managing your case from start to finish and will fight to secure the most favorable outcome for you. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. WebIn October 2020, through Rathbun, Whipple amended the defamation and conspiracy lawsuit to include Capps, O'Donnell (now Sedgwick County Commissioner), and Wichita City Councilman James Clendenin as defendants. Therefore, it is critical that you act to prepare your defense by retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney right away. Whymarks company, WMK Research, hired two India-based subcontractors to perform the actual IT services, and instructed them to conceal their work. News | USAO-KS | Department of Justice We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: Count 1: Up to 20 Wichita Businessman Faces 19 Counts of COVID Relief If the prosecutor or the court sees you acting defensive or aggressive, this may have a detrimental impact on your case. The NLR does not wish, nor does it intend, to solicit the business of anyone or to refer anyone to an attorney or other professional. Last Modified Date: February 23, 2023. After an arrest the indictment may be made available to the public. 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WICHITA, Kan. Four individuals in two separate investigations were indicted today in Kansas. Clients from more than 45 U.S. states have hired Nick to seek effective protection against government You are responsible for reading, understanding and agreeing to the National Law Review's (NLRs) and the National Law Forum LLC's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using the National Law Review website. Wikipedia He has written award-winning news stories about the instability of the Kansas foster care system, misconduct by government officials, sexual abuse, technology, education, and the Legislature. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during November and December 2020 in Wichita. In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Kansas-based Saint Frances Ministries. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Federal Indictment: Prompt Action & Tactical Response Moving Towards MOCRA Implementation: FDA Announces Industry DAO Deemed General Partnership in Negligence Suit over Crypto Hack IRS Updates Its List of Compliance Campaigns. v. Coe et al (, Stannard et al v. United States of America (, Nature of Suit: Personal Inj. Contact the Webmaster to submit comments. United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the February 2022 Federal Census Bureau QuickFacts Indictments in Federal Criminal Cases | Federal Crime Double Secret Probation! Smith hired Whymark in February 2018 to lead a project to upgrade IT services for the organization. Six Indicted in Alleged Drone Prison Smuggling Scheme. In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It does not mean you are or will be found guilty of the crimes identified in the indictment. This will depend on many factors, and your attorney can help you decide whether this is a possibility. ; David Robert Richards II, 32, of Louisburg, Kan.; Christian Douglas An attorney can help you navigate the criminal judicial process, prepare a personalized defense, and fight aggressively for your freedom. three counts of false statement to the SBA for EIDL loans, Defendants originally charged in the indictment are Trevor Scott Sparks, 31, Gerald L. Ginnings, 40, Gloria May Jones, 30, Vicente Araujo, 23, Leslie Ladon Walker, 33, and Paul J. Kibodeaux, 37, all of Kansas City, Mo. An attorney can help you decide which post-indictment option would be best for your case: (1) move to dismiss the indictment; (2) plead guilty; or (3) contest the ; Markus Michael A. Patterson, 37, of Grandview, Mo. To prove guilt, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. A locked padlock A grand jury is a group of citizens who are Show 20 More Items, emailStay Connected three counts of wire fraud in connection with EIDL loans from the SBA, When I learned of it yesterday, I immediately moved to suspend the Rev. This is because this right has not been incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment which would make it applicable to the states. If a grand jury determines that a case is strong enough to proceed into court as a felony criminal case, a federal indictment will be issued. A federal indictment, also called a bill of indictment or a true bill, is the written accusation that forms the basis for a felony criminal case in a United States federal court. The indictment said Smith and Whymark conspired along with unnamed others to commit wire fraud. Read More. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A federal indictment is an accusation of charges against one or more defendants. Counts 3, 6 and 9: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Lock The grand jury indictment, which was filed Nov. 9, says Smith and Whymark conspired and engaged in a scheme to defraud Saint Francis Ministries.. Eleven More Defendants Indicted for $4.1 Million Federal grand jury indicts men in Kansas gun and drug Kansas man charged in federal court with battery acid It is sometimes possible to challenge your federal indictment. The Wichita Eagle reports that Roland Keith Vandenberg was indicted Tuesday in federal court on one charge of assaulting, impeding, intimidating and An individual can receive a federal indictment for a host of crimes, including the following: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), Making False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims. You hear about people being indicted all the time on the news and it comes across as such a simple, one step thing, but apparently not -- I hope I never have to experience it first hand! An attorney can help you decide which post-indictment option would be best for your case: (1) move to dismiss the indictment; (2) plead guilty; or (3) contest the indictment and request your constitutional right to a jury trial. Capps is accused of submitting false and fraudulent documents on behalf of the companies to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), as well as to the Kansas Department of Commerce for Small Business Working Capital grants, and to Sedgwick County for a Sedgwick County Cares grant. U.S. District Court of Kansas Recently Opened Cases, Dickey v. Two Trails Healthcare, Inc. et al (, Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus (Prison Condition), Nature of Suit: Contract Product Liability, Grant v. Kansas, State of, Department for Children and Families (, Voeks v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, The et al (, Gonzalez v. PAR Electrical Contractor, LLC et al (, Western First Aid & Safety, LLC v. Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel, LLC (, Nature of Suit: Social Security: DIWC/DIWW, Nature of Suit: Social Security: SSID Tit. Kansas The grand jury then decides in secrecy whether there is ample evidence to indict the individual. He has defended clients in PPP Loan Fraud cases and COVID-19 investigations. The Wichita Eagle reports that Roland Keith Vandenberg was indicted Tuesday in federal court on one charge of assaulting, impeding, intimidating and interfering with employees of the U.S. government or one of its agencies. A federal indictment is the first step by the prosecutor to initiate a criminal investigation against the defendant. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy, Kansas foster care provider sues former leaders over alleged, FBI moves to seize bank deposits in alleged $10 million, Kansas foster care provider criticizes coverage while.