Leavenworth Man Charged with Producing Child Pornography

KANSAS CITY, KS—Chris Dwire, Jr., 36, Leavenworth, Kan., is charged with two counts of producing child pornography, one count of using the Internet to attempt to entice a child to engage in sex with him, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2008 and 2005 in Leavenworth, Kan.

According to the indictment, Dwire used a Kodak Easy Share M883 digital camera to take pornographic photos of children. He also downloaded child pornography from the Internet.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of producing child pornography; a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of attempting to entice a minor to have sex; not less than five years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of receiving child pornography; and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing child pornography.

The Leavenworth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

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

Wildor Washington, Sr., 64, Kansas City, Mo., and Emma Jean Holmes, 52, Kansas City, Mo., are charged with mortgage fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during July through September 2004 in Johnson County, Kan.

According to the indictment, Washington conspired to defraud lenders by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications to obtain home loans for Emma Jean Holmes. The applications grossly overstated Holmes’ monthly income and falsely stated the property being purchased would be her primary residence when in fact she did not intend to live there. Washington and Holmes also falsely stated that she was providing the down payment. The alleged crimes occurred in connection with the purchase of a house in the 7900 block of 155th Place in Overland Park, Kan., and a house in the 15700 block of Birch Street in Overland Park, Kan.

Both Washington and Holmes are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering. In addition, Washington is charged with one count of making a false statement to a special agent of the Internal Revenue Service.

Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:

• Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Money laundering: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
• Making a false statement to an investigator: A maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker are prosecuting.

Thomas J. Hoffman, 37, Garnett, Kan.; Arthur E. Black, Jr., 36; and Thomas D. Egger, 39, Garnett, Kan.; are charged with firearms violations. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times in 2005.

According to the indictment, in 2005 Hoffman falsely claimed he was not an unlawful user of controlled substances when he obtained a federal firearms license and opened Cedar Creek Outfitters in Garnett, Kan. All three men are charged with violating federal laws prohibiting users of controlled substances and convicted felons from possessing firearms.

Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:

• Making a false statement on an application for a federal firearms dealers license: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Aiding and abetting a user of controlled substances to obtain a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Aiding and abetting a convicted felon to obtain a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The Garnett, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Francisco Javier Medrano-Bernal, 34, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of a felony and deported. He was found June 24, 2009, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,0000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

David Brown, 36, Kansas City, Mo., is charged with one count of bank robbery. According to the indictment, on July 24, 2009, he robbed Country Club Bank at 13451 Briar Street in Leawood, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Leawood Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.

Artemio Romero-Cruz, 40, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of aggravated felonies and deported. He was found July 17, 2009, in Johnson County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

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