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Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX:      316-269-6420

March 17 , 2009

FORMER MANAGER OF HONKY TONK BAR SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

WICHITA, KAN. – The former manager of a Haysville, Kan., bar that was destroyed by arson has been sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for fraud, U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said today. James H. Keller, II, 55, formerly of Wichita, was sentenced to 60 months.

In November 2008, Keller pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.

In 2006, Keller was the manager of the Honky Tonk Bar at 7426 S. Broadway, in Haysville, Kan. In his plea, he admitted that in March 2006 he took out an insurance policy on the contents of the bar. On May 12, 2006, the bar and its contents were destroyed by fire.

On Oct. 9, 2006, Nov. 13, 2006, and Nov. 17, 2006, Keller submitted information documenting proof of loss for contents of the Honky Tonk Bar to Western Heritage Insurance Company of Scottsdale, Ariz. In the documents, he made false and fraudulent claims for items in the Honky Tonk that he did not own. The intended loss to Western was more than $150,000.

Parker commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.

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