Clinton Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme
At Least 23 Stores Sustained $242,000 in Losses Due to Fraudulent Purchases

KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Clinton, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme that victimized at least 23 stores in a three-state area, resulting in more than $242,000 in losses.

Jason M. Hendricks, 34, of Clinton, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to a federal information that charges him with executing a scheme to defraud Nebraska Furniture Mart.

According to today’s plea agreement, from July 2008 to March 2009, Hendricks engaged in a prolific fraud scheme to obtain merchandise and gift cards with non-sufficient funds checks, counterfeit checks, and checks written on closed accounts. Victims of the fraud scheme included at least 23 stores in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska that sustained at least $242,841 in total losses. Some of the merchandise was kept by Hendricks’ friends and co-conspirators. Other merchandise was sold online, including via eBay and Craigslist.

Hendricks pleaded guilty today to executing a scheme to defraud Nebraska Furniture Mart by transporting merchandise, which had been taken by fraud, across state lines. Hendricks admitted that he ordered a front-load washer and dryer and a pedestal from Nebraska Furniture Mart on Aug. 2, 2008. When he arrived the next day to pay for the appliances, he also purchased some office furniture, two 60-inch plasma HDTVs, four notebook computers, a desktop computer, a 19-inch LCD flat screen, and computer software. In addition, he received two $150 rewards cards from Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Hendricks admitted that he used two fraudulent checks totaling $20,860 to make the purchases at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Both of the checks were drawn on a closed UMB Bank account. Hendricks transported the merchandise from Wyandotte County, Kan., to Harrisonville, Mo., where it was unloaded into another person’s garage.

Under federal statutes, Hendricks is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel M. Nelson. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department and the Lenexa, Kan., Police Department.