A Braymer, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court Monday for a cattle fraud scheme that resulted in losses of more than $262,000 to his victims.

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that Garland Joseph “Joey” Nelson, 22, of Braymer, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two years in federal prison without parole.

The court also ordered Nelson to pay $262,450 in restitution to his victims, including the USDA Farm Service Agency, Cyclone Cattle Company and individual victims.

The government may enforce restitution and the recovery of government property under lien at any time. Nelson must report to the Bureau of Prisons on Nov. 21, 2016, to begin serving his sentence.

On Nov. 30, 2015, Nelson pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme using property mortgaged or pledged to farm credit agencies. Nelson engaged in a three-part fraud scheme that caused a combined loss of $262,450.

Nelson admitted that he engaged in a scheme to sell at least 114 mortgaged head of cattle that were pledged to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), without notifying FSA of the sales, from April 1, 2013, through June 2014. He did not instruct purchasers to address proceeds checks to the FSA as well as to him, and he did not remit the bulk of the sale proceeds to FSA, as was required by the terms of his loans. Instead, Nelson admitted that he kept the funds for his personal use.

Nelson received two livestock operating loans in April 2013 totaling $158,000 for the limited purpose of buying and raising cattle. In violation of the express terms of his loans, and with fraudulent intent, Nelson conducted livestock sales from April 2013 to July 2014 under the name “Joey Nelson” to avoid detection. He conducted other sales in the name of a friend to further conceal his involvement. His friend then transferred the proceeds to Nelson.

Nelson ceased making repayments on his FSA loans as of Jan. 12, 2015. His outstanding principal balance is $138,452, plus applicable interest and penalties. Nelson filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 25, 2015.

Nelson also schemed to remove identification from cattle that was owned by others but placed in his care to graze. Nelson removed identification tags from 646 head of cattle that belonged to others, and commingled these cattle with his own and with those owned by his neighbor and landlord, in order to sell livestock undetected. He sold those cattle for his own benefit, for a total loss to three victims of $124,000.

(News release)

A three-vehicle accident blocked traffic on southbound I-29 south of St. Joseph Tuesday morning.

The initial reports came in shortly after 6am. The accident was located near mile marker 42.

At least one person was hurt.

A Kansas City woman suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Clinton County Monday afternoon.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Lisa Dowell lost control of her vehicle along I-35 northeast of Lathrop just before 3pm Monday.

The car hit the guardrail and went down an embankment.

Dowell, 50, was transported to North Kansas City Hospital.

St. Joseph, Mo. – Missouri Western State University recently reported enrollment numbers which included a record number of graduate students.

According to a news release from Missouri Western, enrollment was reported on Sept. 28, at 5,388 including a record 243 graduate students.

“We are pleased that our relatively young master’s degree programs continue to see steady, sustainable growth,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This remains an opportunity for continued growth in the future, especially as we continue to bring new programs online, including our MBA program starting next year.”

The total enrollment is about 3 percent below last year’s total. One reason may be the improving economy, said Dr. Paul Orscheln, associate vice president for enrollment management and student retention.

“We saw a significant drop in the number of students age 30 and over, and that was a major factor in our overall numbers,” Dr. Orscheln said. “That’s usually an indication that adult learners are entering the work force rather than going back to school.”

Despite the decline, Dr. Orscheln said there are positive trends in the official enrollment numbers including the retention rate or percentage of last year’s first-time full-time freshman class that returned for their sophomore year. That percentage is the highest in the last nine years and the second highest on record. Also the number of new students, including first-time full-time freshmen and new transfers is up 3.4 percent over a year ago.

Trial got underway Monday with jury selection for a man charged with first-degree domestic assault. If convicted of the class A felony, Martin Davis could be sentenced to from 10 to 30 years or life in prison and must serve 85% of that sentence.

Davis is accused of the beating of his wife Sandra Dee Davis back in May of last year at the couple’s home. The victim was seriously injured and died from her injuries.

Jury selection got underway on Monday in the courtroom of Judge Daniel Kellogg. The trial is expected to last all week.

St. Joseph, Mo. – The Missouri Western State University Speech and Debate team will present a “Trump vs. Clinton” debate this week.

Members of the program will represent the two major-party candidates in an objective, Lincoln-Douglas style debate on the issues facing the next president.

After the debate, attendees will have the opportunity to register to vote.

The debate begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101.

The event is free and open to the public.