Federal Bureau of Investigation - The Kansas City Division: Department of Justice Press Release

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 16, 2009

United States Attorney's Office
District of Kansas
Contact: (316) 269-6481

Indictment: Employee of DeSoto Company Stole More Than $180,000 from Employer
Other Indictments: Drug Trafficking, Wire Fraud, Immigration Crimes and Firearms Violations

KANSAS, KN—Joseph S. Bowen, 34, Kansas City, Mo., is charged with eight counts of wire fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from April 12, 2006, to Aug. 8, 2008, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

According to the indictment, Bowen worked as “deductions coordinator” for Huhtamaki U.S., a speciality packaging company with headquarters in DeSoto, Kan. The company provides consumer goods, packaging and food service containers, as well as a line of premium disposable tableware. Bowen’s duties included receiving invoices from vendors and processing payments to vendors and customers who qualify for rebates for large volume discounts, special promotions or refunds for overpayment.

Bowen redirected vendor and customer payments into his personal bank account by making false entries into the company’s accounting system. He attempted to hide his activities by using another employee’s username and password to access the computer system. As a result, wire transfers were made from Huhtamaki’s Bank of America account, processed through the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis, and eventually paid to Bowen’s Bank of America account in Richmond, Va. Bowen fraudulently caused a series of wire transfers to be made in the following amounts: $1,682; $5,981; $8,696; $19,891; $9,639; $16,866; $77,300 and $55,611.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

Other Indictments:

A federal grand jury meeting in Kansas City, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Barbra James, 40, Lenexa, Kan., is charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of unlawful computer intrusion. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from Nov. 18, 2004, to March 25, 2005, in Lawrence, Kan.

According to the indictment, James worked for Star Signs and Graphics as a controller. Her duties included making back-up tapes for the company’s accounting server and administering the company’s e-mail accounts. She used her access to the company’s computers to increase her own salary, forge checks drawn on the company, and make unauthorized charges on the company’s American Express account. She forged more than $8,000 worth of checks, made 14 unauthorized purchases totaling more than $4,000, and made unauthorized online withdrawals from the company’s account totaling more than $3,800.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of wire fraud, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the computer intrusion charge. The U.S. Secret Service and the Lawrence Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

Graciano Loya-Loya, 51, Kansas City, Kan.; Carlos Valencia, 38, Kansas City, Kan.; Jose Nino, 29, Kansas City, Kan.; Jose Guerrero-Rocha, 24, Kansas City, Kan.; Rodrigo Martinez, 27, Kansas City, Kan.; Jose Guerrero-Santillan, 44, Kansas City, Kan.; Michael Thomas, 53, Kansas City, Mo.; Delarrean Thomas, 22, Kansas City, Mo.; Tasheena Thomas, 23, Kansas City, Mo; and Shawn Garrett, 32, Kansas City, Kan., are charged in a 14-count indictment with drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during a conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2009, through June 26, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan.

According to the indictment, conspirators used residences including 2920 Brown Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., and 337 N. 13th in Kansas City, Kan., to store and distribute drugs. Drugs distributed by the conspirators included methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

Upon conviction, the crimes charged in the indictment carry the following penalties:

Count 1, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Count 12, distributing methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Count 13, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Count 2, conspiracy to distribute cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million.
Count 7, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million.
Count 3, conspiracy to distribute marijuana: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Count 11, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Counts 4 and 5, distributing cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Counts 6 and 10, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Count 8, using a phone in furtherance of drug trafficking, a maximum penalty of 4 years and a fine up to $250,0000.
Counts 9 and 14, maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Juan Pablo Serrano, 53, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of a felony and deported. He was found May 18, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

Kimberly L. Young, 39, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. The crime is alleged to have occurred Feb. 4, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

According to the indictment, Young stole a package containing jewelry. If convicted she faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

Bryon M. Billingsley, 33, Overland Park, Kan., is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in December 2007 in Overland Park, Kan.

If convicted, he faces, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the drug charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Rudy Perez, 22, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun that is not listed in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 1, 2007, in Kansas City, 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.

Derrick M. Scaife, 28, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 22, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

David Gallegos, 31, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 10, 2009, in Kansas City, Kan.

Haywood T. Madison, 27, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession of heroin. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 30, 2008, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the crack charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the heroin charge. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting.

Conrado Montelongo-Valles, 25, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of maintaining a residence at 1874 North 32nd Street in Kansas City, Kan., for the purpose of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 12, 2009 in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the distribution charge, a maximum penalty of 5 years to be served consecutive to other sentences and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,00 on the charge of maintaining a residence for drug trafficking. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.

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

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