April 16, 2015

Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Topeka Man in Bomb Case

KANSAS CITY, KS—A federal grand jury today returned an indictment against a Topeka man who was charged in a criminal complaint last week with plotting to explode a bomb at the Fort Riley military base near Manhattan, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

John T. Booker, Jr., 20, Topeka, Kan., was indicted on one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives), one count of attempting to damage property by means of an explosive and one count of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is a foreign terrorist organization.

If convicted, Booker would face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, including members from the FBI’s Kansas City Division, the Topeka Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith, and Trial Attorneys Josh Parecki and Rebecca Magnone of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

OTHER FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS

Randal H. Duncan, 57, Wichita, is charged with one count of bank robbery. The indictment alleges that on April 6, 2015, he robbed the Emprise Bank at 237 N. Broadway in Wichita.

A criminal complaint filed in the case alleges he entered the bank about 12:50 p.m. and said to a teller, “I have a bomb, give me $40,000 cash.” He was arrested later at a laundromat at Hydraulic and Harry in Wichita.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

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Sixto Refugio Largerous-Perez, 42, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entered the United States after being deported. He was found April 1, 2015, in Olathe, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

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Carlos Byron, 59, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 30, 2015 in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City (Kansas) Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

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James G. Martin, 40, Independence, Mo., is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery one count of passing a counterfeit $100 bill and one count of possessing $570 in counterfeit bills. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from Sept. 1, 2013, to Feb. 1, 2015, in Johnson County, Kan.

f convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy count; and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the other counts. The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

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Luis Gerardo-Montenegro, 21, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 2, 2015, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on the drug charge, and penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and ICE-HSI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward is prosecuting.

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Sarah Willson, 26, Olathe, Kan., is charged with one count of destroying mail while working as a U.S. Postal Service employee. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 21, 2014, in Olathe, Kan.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.

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Matthew Williams, 46, Junction City, Kan., is charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from July 25 to August 2014.

The indictment alleges he submitted false documentation on a Veterans Affairs home loan from Pulaski Bank. He also is alleged to have used another person’s Social Security number.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud charge, and an additional two years on the identity theft charge. The Veterans Administration—Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.

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Bryce D. Draper, 26, Mission, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 7, 2015, in Douglas County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence (Kansas) Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

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