Summary of Criminal Prosecutions
FISCAL YEAR: 2013
1. PRINCIPAL DEFENDANT: Sedrix M. Blumingburg
E.D. Missouri 4:12CR82 JCH
E.D. Missouri 4:12CR82 JCH
2. DEFENDANT: Michael Terry
E.D. Missouri
E.D. Missouri
In March 2011, EPA-CID received information from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources alleging that employees of Sure Start Battery and Tire Company were generating fictitious emission certificates and other documents required to process vehicle registrations with the State of Missouri. It was further alleged that an individual in the employ of the Missouri License Office was taking bribes in exchange for acceptance of the fraudulent vehicle registration documents. The Missouri License Offices are owned and operated by private contractors to the state. This case is cross-referenced to the case against Alice H. Gregory and a 2009 case involving Michael Terry and James Dubose.
February 29, 2012
The defendants were charged with numerous counts of mail fraud, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1341.
CITATION: 18 U.S.C. 1341
June 15, 2012
Blumingburg pled guilty to one count of mail fraud.
June 27, 2012
Terry pled guilty to one count of mail fraud.
September 7, 2012
Blumingburg was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered to pay restitution to the Missouri Department of Revenue in the amount of $10,725. The restitution is Joint and Several with Michael Terry.
October 11, 2012
Terry was sentenced to 13 months incarceration, 36 months supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,724.16, and a $100.00 special assessment fee.
Press Release
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2012
AREA MAN SENTENCED FOR FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS FOR VEHICLE OWNERS
St. Louis, MO - Michael Terry was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for falsifying documentation regarding auto emissions tests and sales tax documentation during his employment at Sure Start Battery & Tire Company on St. Charles Rock Road, St. Louis. According to court documents, the legitimate business of Sure Start was general vehicle repair including safety and auto emissions testing. Terry conducted false safety and auto emissions tests and provided false safety documentation to vehicle owners for compensation to bypass the Missouri state laws associated with vehicle safety and EPA regulations. Additionally, Terry created false documents showing vehicle insurance; false bill of sale documents on motor vehicles reducing the actual sales price to lower the amount of state sales tax due; and paid personal property tax receipts for vehicle owners to register their vehicles, all of which they personally delivered to the Missouri Department of Revenue office on South Kingshighway, St. Louis. Terry received illegal payments from the vehicle owners for these services. These documents were processed by fee/contract clerks as true and correct and sent to the Missouri Department of Revenue, depriving Missouri of fees and taxes. "Complete and accurate tests of vehicle emissions are essential to protect the public from harmful air pollutants, and vehicle inspectors who put the environment at risk by falsifying official documents will be prosecuted,” said Michael Burnett, Special Agent in Charge of EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement in Missouri, Michael L. Terry, 25, St. Louis, 63121, pled guilty in May to one felony count of mail fraud, and appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. This case was investigated by the US Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, the Missouri Department of Revenue, Missouri Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the St. Louis County Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Reap handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
STATUTE:
- Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code (TITLE 18)