Friday, May 3, 2013

Kansas City Lawyer sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to launder drug money

Looks like someone has been watching a little to much breaking bad.  This KC lawyer got himself in some hot water.  Here is the article on Fox 4.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Kansas City lawyer has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to launder drug money of an undercover agent posing as a marijuana dealer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Monday.


Ronald E. Partee, 66, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of money laundering. In his plea, Partee admitted he conspired with co-defendants Mendy Read-Forbes, 38, of Platte City, Mo., and Laura Shoop, 46, also of Platte City, Mo.

The investigation began in March 2012 when a KBI agent working undercover met Read-Forbes. Read-Forbes was holding herself out as the owner of Forbes & Newhard Credit Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization established to provide credit counseling to people who were in bankruptcy proceedings. In fact, she was not the legal owner but exercised control of the company’s bank account along with Partee. Shoop was an acquaintance of Read-Forbes who worked at various times for the company.

The KBI agent was posing as a marijuana dealer. Forbes offered to consult with Partee and to devise a scheme to launder the dealer’s drug proceeds. As part of the scheme, Forbes offered to deposit money given to her by the agent she thought was a drug dealer into the bank accounts of Forbes and Newhard Credit Solutions or related companies and then to return the money to the dealer via checks, money orders or wire transfers. The bank accounts were in Kansas.

To make the transactions appear legitimate, Forbes gave the drug dealer a contract titled “Purchase and Sale of Business Agreement.” The contract, bearing the signature of Partee and the drug dealer, made it appear that the marijuana dealer was purchasing assets of FCP, Inc., a corporation controlled by Forbes and Partee.

To make it appear that the drug dealer was engaged in business as a certified credit counselor with Forbes and Newhard Credit Solutions, Forbes gave the drug dealer a certificate saying he had completed training as a bankruptcy specialist.

In addition, Forbes created a fictitious company called Maximum Lawn Care, LLC, and opened bank accounts where cash from the drug dealer was deposited.  Partee was at various times a member of the board of directors for Forbes and Newhard and a signator on FCP’s bank accounts. On April 20, 2012, Partee approved two wire transfers from the FCP account that he believed were drug funds. He sent $5,000 to a bank account of Maximus Lawn Care and $5,000 to the bank account of an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer. During a meeting May 25, 2012, at Partee’s office, the undercover agent posing as a drug dealer sought advice from Partee concerning where he could store marijuana. During the meeting, which was recorded, Partee engaged in the discussion.

Defendants Read-Forbes and Shoop are awaiting trial. In a separate case, Mendy Read-Forbes and Brian Forbeshave been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of money laundering.

Grissom commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Terrible accident in Marion County leaves young man dead

Zachariah Antoszyk of Marion Kansas, was killed on Sunday April 28, 2013.  In a tragic accident of which the details are still not entirely known the young man's life was cut short.  According to the Kansas Highway Patrol which worked the scene of the accident, it was a two vehicle accident involving a semi truck and a 1993 Toyota Pickup.  According to the police report, the accident occurred around 3:00 a.m. on April 28, when a 1999 International Semi truck was northbound on Kansas Hwy 56 when it crossed the center line for unknown reasons, and went into the west ditch.  The driver of the semi,  Shane Mascareno of Jetmore, brought the vehicle back onto the roadway however the attached trailer collided with the 1993 Toyota operated by Zachariah Antoszyk.  The resulting impact caused serious damage to the pickup.

Zachariah Antoszyk, was taken to Herrington Municipal Hospital, and passed away at the age of 22. Mr. Mascareno was not injured.

View the Police Report here for 30 days.

When your loved one has been seriously injured or killed in an incident like this you need to obtain an experienced personal injury lawyer to investigate the facts and determine whom is at fault.   If you or a loved one find themselves in need of an experienced personal injury lawyer please contact the attorneys of Copley Roth and Wilson LLC.  Our firm has extensive experience handling personal injury and wrongful death claims and is here to compassionately assist you in your time of need. If you, a loved one, or a family member has suffered the devastating , and oftentimes tragic consequences of failed security, please do not hesitate to contact Copley Roth and Wilson, LLC (913-451-9500) to address any questions or concerns you may have.  The initial consultation(s) telephone and in person, are always free.