LENEXA WOMAN CHARGED WITH $107,000 BANK FRAUD

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Gale R. Rupert, 30, Lenexa, Kan., was indicted Thursday on 29 counts of bank fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment:

– When Rupert committed the crimes in 2004 she was working as business manager for Crossroads Interiors at 65 Street of Dreams, Village of Loch Loyd, Mo., as well administrative assistant for the president of Crossroads Interiors, Daneen C. James. Rupert’s duties included answering client calls, collecting and processing mail, billing clients and paying vendors.

– Rupert opened a personal account at Country Club Bank of Leawood, Kan., where Crossroads Interiors maintained its accounts.

– Rupert forged the signature of Daneen James on checks made payable to Rupert.

– Rupert endorsed client checks to herself and deposited the checks into her personal account.

– Rupert used credit cards issued to Crossroads to buy merchandise for herself.

– Rupert transferred money from the general fund at Crossroads to conceal the fact she was stealing money from the company.

– Rupert used the Social Security number of Daneen James for the purpose of committing credit card fraud.

– Rupert obtained approximately $107, 248 from the crimes.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of bank fraud, and a penalty of not less than 2 years to run consecutively to other sentences on each count of aggravated identity theft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A grand jury meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Kansas City also returned the following indictments:

Monica M. Williams, 29, Grain Valley, Mo., and T.H. Carr, 30, Florence, Mo., are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and eight counts of bank fraud. In addition, Williams is charged alone with one count of theft by a bank employee. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2003 in Roeland Park, Kan.

According to the indictment, at the time the crimes were committed Williams was employed by USBank and her duties included issuing replacement ATM cards to customers of the bank. Williams changed the personal identification numbers on the cards without the card holders’ knowledge. She provided seven cards to Carr, who is her brother, with instructions on how to use the cares to withdraw money from the accounts. Carr used the cards to withdraw approximately $46,800 in cash.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

– Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

– Bank fraud: A maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on each count.

– Theft by a bank employee: A maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million.

The United States Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.

Durrell Jones, 22, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Dec. 15, 2006, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in a federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

Charles Klepac, 43, Kansas City, Kan.; Edward Mendez, 30, Kansas City, Kan.; and Alejo Cesareo-Ayala, 47, Kansas City, Mo.; are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In addition, Cesareo-Ayala is charged with one count of distributing marijuana. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from Dec. 1, 2006, through March 9, 2007.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

– Conspiracy: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million

– Possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million.

– Distribution of marijuana: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Ernest Shepard, 38, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 25, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison, and a fine up to $2 million. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Raphael Hogan, 26, Mission, Kan., and Ronald Lasley, 23, Mission, Kan., are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, and one count of attempting to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. In addition, Hogan is charged alone with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from May 1, 2004, to May 17, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

Upon conviction, each of the drug counts carries a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million. The firearms charge carries a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Timothy Joe James, 45, Lawrence, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 30, 2006, in Lawrence, Kan.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Joshua A. Gulley, 25, Paola, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 13, 2007, in Paola, 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 Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

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