14 defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute more than $4 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin in the St. Joseph, Mo., area and elsewhere.

 

Mario Alberto Yepez, 40, and Barbara Kay Tracy, also known as “Barbie,” 33, both of Elwood, Kan.; Messiah Edmundo Garcia, 30, of St. Joseph; Mario Enrique Morales, also known as “El Jeffe,” 63, Griselda Yepez-Garcia, 45, Jacquelyn Morales, 34, Manuela Maratinez-Morales, 69, and Enrique Morales, also known as “Henry,” 35, all of Laredo, Texas; Jose Luis Yepez, also known as “Joe,” 45, of Grand Island, Neb.; Cynthia Kaye Buboltz, 50, of Lewis, Iowa; Araceli Duran-Edeza, 20, of Bellflower, Calif.; Reyna Edeza, 26, of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Gracie Ann Edler, 47, and Richard S. Luther, 52, who are incarcerated on unrelated state charges, were charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.

 

The federal indictment alleges that 11 of the defendants (with the exceptions of Martinez-Morales, Edeza and Duran-Edeza) participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin between Jan. 1, 2011, and Jan. 27, 2015. The indictment alleges that conspirators distributed 80 kilograms of methamphetamine and three kilograms of heroin during the four-year conspiracy.

 

All of the defendants are charged with participating in a money laundering conspiracy during the same time frame. They allegedly conducted financial transactions that involved the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy in order to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership and control of those proceeds and to avoid federal bank reporting requirements. According to the indictment, cash obtained from drug sales was deposited into various bank accounts, or stored, or transported, in such a manner as to conceal its true nature, source, location, ownership and control and to avoid federal bank reporting requirements.

 

During the conspiracy, the indictment says, law enforcement cooperators paid cash for controlled substances, which was deposited into various banks. Cash deposits made in close proximity to where the drug sales occurred, the indictment says, were quickly withdrawn in Texas and California.

 

In addition to the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies, the indictment also charges Mario Yepez with being a felon in possession of firearms. According to the indictment, Yepez, who has a prior felony conviction, was in possession of an FHN .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, a Spikes Tactical AR rifle, a Ruger 9mm handgun, a Dan Wesson Arms .357-caliber revolver, a stolen Cobra .380-caliber handgun, a stolen Hi-Point .45-caliber rifle, two Norinco SKS 7.62×39 rifles, a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber handgun and a Smith & Wesson .22-caliber pistol.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) introduced the Missouri Anti-Corruption Act (SJR 13) Tuesday — a proposal to address institutional corruption in Missouri government by overhauling state ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance laws.

 

In summary, the Missouri Anti-Corruption Act would:

 

• Prohibit politicians from accepting gifts and job offers from lobbyists.
• Close loopholes to ensure that all people who lobby register as lobbyists.
• Prohibit political contributions by unions and corporations, and restrict contributions by lobbyists.
• Limit the size of all political contributions.
• Strengthen the Missouri Ethics Commission.
• Require full disclosure of all money spent on Missouri politics.
• Prohibit secret coordination between candidates and political action committees (PACs).
• Empower everyday Missourians and reduce the influence of special interests by establishing a rebate program designed to encourage small contributions.

 

If passed by the state Legislature, the Missouri Anti-Corruption Act will be referred to the 2016 ballot for a public vote. If approved, it will be adopted as an amendment to the Missouri Constitution.

“In our state government, it is too often deep-pocketed special interests who set the agenda.  The Missouri Anti-Corruption Act will help to ensure that Missouri’s government is truly of, by, and for the people,” Schaaf said. “When elected officials depend on a small set of special interests to provide campaign funds – not to mention meals and other gifts – they listen too keenly to what those special interests want.  Instead of listening to patients, they listen to healthcare industry executives.  Instead of listening to small business owners here in Missouri, they listen to big corporations owned by people in other states and other countries.”

 

St. Joseph Voter turnout was lower than predicted Tuesday afternoon during the city’s 2015 Bond Election.

Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey said turnout as of 2:30 p.m. was only at 3.1%.

“I still have faith that with this warm up we will get to 10%,” Baack-Garvey said.

The only issue on Tuesday’s ballot in St. Joseph is to authorize $190 million in bonds to complete the next phase of the city’s Long Term Control Plan to reduce sewer overflows into the Missouri River.

Baack-Garvey expected voter turnout to be light.

“The one-issue ballots just don’t seem to bring out the turnout,” she said.

If approved by voters, the City Council will be eligible to apply for bonds issued through the State Revolving Fund. The interest rate on such bonds is typically half of the normal rate, saving the city about $53 million over the life of the 20-year bonds.

St. Joseph is one of 770 cities in the country, and one of three in the state of Missouri (along with Kansas City and St. Louis), that have a combined sewer system that carries stormwater and wastewater in the same pipe. As a result, officials here are faced with federal and state mandates to reduce discharges of stormwater mixed with raw sewage that overflows into the Missouri River.

St. Joseph voters have until 7 p.m. to cast their ballots before polls close.

Click here for a list of precincts and ballots.

(St. Joseph, Mo.) Hundreds of families in St. Joseph will receive free books this year, thanks to a grant to enrich early literacy programs at local libraries. The St. Joseph Public Library is a recipient of $14,999 in Racing to Read funds, a grant established by the Missouri State Library, made possible by the federal Library Services and Technology Act.

Throughout 2015, the St. Joseph Public Library will host family-focused early literacy events where children and caregivers will participate in early literacy activities, story times, crafts, receive a free book—and in some cases, enjoy a free meal.
Racing to Read grants were designed by Secretary of State Jason Kander’s office, to expand and strengthen the quality and availability of programs that expose kids from birth to age six to critical pre-reading skills. Racing to Read teaches parents and caregivers how to read with young children using five interactive themes, and was based on a highly successful program in Springfield.

The St. Joseph Public Library will partner with local agencies, St. Joseph Public School District’s Parents as Teachers and United Way’s Success By 6, to host multiple grant-sponsored events aimed to improve St. Joseph’s kindergarten readiness. All families who attend Racing to Read events will receive a free children’s book to add to their home library. The Racing to Read funding will also allow the St. Joseph Public Library to purchase additional children’s books to checkout, and will aid in the purchase of early literacy materials for use at library outreach events.

The first Racing to Read event, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Brunch Bonanza! will be held at the Keatley Center (1202 S. 28th Street) on Saturday, February 28th at 10:00AM. Families and caregivers of children age 6 and under can attend this two-hour event, where they will enjoy a free Seuss-themed brunch, participate in a variety of early literacy activities, and receive a free children’s book. For more information on this and other Racing to Read events, contact Jess Gould by calling the East Hills Library 236-2136.

A Benton High School senior has received an offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

United States Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri and U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 6th congressional district Sam Graves approved Nick Palmer in the nomination process for West Point.

Palmer has many family members who have worked in the military, including two grandfathers who served in the Korean War.

“This is always something I have wanted to do. I felt led to West Point,” Palmer said. “When I was on campus and saw helicopters and people learning how to repel…I knew for sure I wanted to do that. My goal is to be an Infantry Officer.”

The application process for West Point is extensive. After being accepted to the Summer Leadership Program in 2014, Palmer provided information for questionnaires, an activities record, student information, essays, score evaluations, medical tests, fitness tests,
interviews with congressional staff and more. Benton administrators and staff, and even middle and former elementary teachers filled out nomination forms including Palmer’s volunteer, activity and award achievements.

“Nick is one of those amazing students. He has been a huge asset not only to Benton High School, but the city as well. This is an incredible accomplishment,” Michele Thomason,
Benton High School Assistant Principal said.

More than 19,000 applicants apply to West Point each year. Only 1200 are extended an offer of appointment. Palmer is expected to report to West Point on June 29, 2015 for seven weeks of basic training.

“There is no place else I want to be. I’m thankful for everyone who helped me get to this place,” Palmer ssaid. “Mrs. April Allen, Mr. Keith Vore (West Point liaison officer), and Mr. Joey Hendrix, among others helped me get here. It’s an exciting time.”

A man has been charged with second degree murder for beating his girlfriend to death in St. Joseph over the weekend.

According to a probable cause statement 46-year-old James Earl Eackles was charged with second degree murder for the death of his long-time girlfriend.

Captain Jeff Wilson said officers responded to the 2200 block of S. 15th St. around 5 p.m. Sunday to find a white 40-year-old female dead in the home

The probable cause statement said Eackles admitted to striking his girlfriend several times.

Officers found the woman with significant injuries to her face and body which resulted in her death.

Eackles and the victim have lived together for several years.

Eackles has prior convictions for DWI, drug possession and burglary.  Court documents state that he is an acknowledged drug user.

Eackles remains in police custody and is expected to be arraigned later this week.

56-year-old DeWayne Burch of Saint Joseph was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with a shooting that took place last month at N. Belt Walmart.

According to the probable cause statement DeWayne shot a subject identified by police as 29-year-old Richard Ellege in the abdomen after a verbal altercation outside of Walmart just after 8 p.m. Jan. 19, using a 22-calibre handgun he was carrying concealed without a permit.

Elledge was treated at Mosaic Life Care.

Burch is scheduled for an arraignment in front of Judge Rebecca Spencer, Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.

 

 

The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating a suspicious death that took place in St. Joseph over the weekend.

According to Captain Jeff Wilson officers responded to the 2200 block of S. 15th St. around 5 p.m. Sunday to find a white 40-year-old female dead in the home

Officers arrested a 45-year-old man in connection with the investigation.

Detectives processed the scene and the woman’s body was sent in for an autopsy.

Wilson said at this time this is an active investigation.

Read updated story here with charges filed.