State and Region Briefs

Texas man admits to hitting airport screener with shoe

An El Paso, Texas, man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to violating an airport security requirement by striking an airport security screener at Kansas City International Airport with his shoe.

Bradford L. Cash, 65, admitted that while attempting to pass through a security checkpoint on May 11 at KCI, he assaulted the airport screening employee.

Under federal statutes, Cash could be subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $100,000.

Lee’s Summit man charged with Raytown bank robbery

A Lee’s Summit man was indicted Wednesday for the armed robbery of First Federal Bank in Raytown.

Derrick L. Young, 33, of Lee’s Summit, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.

According to the indictment, Young used a firearm to steal $3,800 on Sept. 28 from First Federal Bank, 9330 E. Gregory, Raytown.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Young approached a bank teller about 12:22 p.m., pointed a semi-automatic handgun at her and handed her a bag in which to put the money from her teller drawer. After receiving money from two tellers, the affidavit says, Young walked out of the bank

Iowa man pleads guilty to two bank robberies

An Iowa man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to the armed robbery of banks in Tarkio and Craig.

Robert Allen Stark, 40, of Shenandoah, Iowa, admitted he stole $2,447 on Aug. 21 from U.S. Bank in Tarkio. Stark entered the bank about 10:15 a.m. and placed a handwritten demand note on the counter. The teller provided all the cash from her teller drawer, which Stark placed in his shirt before leaving the bank on foot.

Stark also admitted that he stole $3,299 on Sept. 20 from Citizens Bank and Trust in Craig. Stark approached a teller window about 10:45 a.m. and unfolded a small note, instructing her to alarm no one and empty her drawer. The teller handed Stark all the cash in her teller drawer, and he left the bank. Stark was arrested during a traffic stop near Tarkio a few minutes later.

Stark could be sentenced up to 40 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.

Federal prisoner charged with attacking fellow inmate

A federal inmate was indicted Wednesday for assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon while awaiting sentencing on an unrelated conviction.

Eric Christopher Eymard, also known as “Taliban,” 25, currently incarcerated in the Federal Processing Center for inmates in Oklahoma City, was charged by a federal grand jury in Kansas City with assaulted another inmate with a toothbrush with the handle sharpened into knife on April 19. Eymard was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty on March 28, 2005, to possession of a metal shank while in custody at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield.

Kansas City teen charged as adult for stabbing death

A teenage girl faces a second-degree murder charge after being certified as an adult Tuesday by a Jackson County Family Court judge.

Latasha R. Kelso, 17, allegedly stabbed her 15-year-old friend, Diamond D. Rockett, multiple times on June 25, according to court records. The stabbing occurred at Kelso’s home, where the two were involved in an altercation about a phone.

Kelso was 16 at the time.

Grand juries indict three men in two drug conspiracies

Three Mexican men were indicted Wednesday for two drug distribution schemes.

Jose L. Perez, 38, and Jorge Antuna, 22, both citizens of Mexico living in Kansas City, are accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine in September and October.

In a separate case, Jose Anders Chavira-Martinez, 29, a Mexican national whose address is unknown, was charged with possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine on Sept. 22 in Jackson County in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.

Motorcycle gang members indicted on drug charges

Six defendants associated with an outlaw motorcycle gang were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

John R. Sheaffer, also known as “Shifty,” 60, and Michael A. Clary, 55, both of Independence, George W. Shook, also known as “Crazy George,” 56, from Kansas City, Robert L. Cartwright, 66, and his wife, Ronda L. Cartwright, 51, both of Kansas City, Kan., and Larry D. Williams, also known as “Eight Ball,” 60, of Wichita, were charged in a 12-count indictment detailing a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from August to October.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Sheaffer is part of the leadership of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club in Kansas City. The affidavit also says the Cartwrights regularly associate with members of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club and an affiliate organization, the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Gang, and identifies Williams as a member of the Wichita chapter of the El Forastero Motorcycle Club.

U.S. prosecutor to monitor Election Day complaints

First assistant U.S. attorney Matt Whitworth will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri office in the connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day program.

Whitworth has been appointed the district election officer and will be responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses.

“We want to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process by protecting against election fraud and discrimination at the polls and by aggressively prosecuting such offenses whenever and wherever they occur,” U.S. attorney Bradley J. Schlozman said.

Schlozman urged the public to report any fraud or voting rights abuses.

To respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 7, Schlozman said, Whitworth will be on duty while the polls are open. He can be reached at (816) 426-3122 and (816) 426-4122.

The FBI will also have special agents available in each field office and resident agency in this district to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached at (816) 512-8200.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.