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Eastern District of Texas
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON | |
| FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010 | PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER | |
| HTTP://WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe | CELL: (409) 553-9881 DIRECT: (409) 981-7902 |
STOLEN COIN SCHEME RESULTS IN FEDERAL CHARGES
Jefferson County coin dealers & business charged in Virginia coin theft
BEAUMONT, Texas – A coin exchange scheme has resulted in the indictment of four Jefferson County residents in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Jason McMillan, 24, of Groves, Texas, Lori Benson Kirkman, 40, Paul Bos-Hernandez, 24, and Anthony Benson, 21, all of Port Arthur, Texas were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 21, 2010 and charged with conspiracy involving the theft of coins from an individual in New Market, Virginia. McMillan and Bos-Hernandez were arrested today and will make their initial appearances on Aug. 30, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin. Kirkman and Benson have not been located and are being sought by authorities.
According to the indictment, it is alleged that on Dec. 18, 2009, McMillan obtained a rental vehicle in the name of his business, McMillan & McMillan LLC, d/b/a American Coin Exchange. That same day, Kirkman, Bos-Hernandez, and Benson are alleged to have driven the rental vehicle to New Market, Virginia to steal coins valued at $152,000, which they then shipped via Federal Express to McMillan's Groves residence. McMillan is then alleged to have sold the stolen property.
The three count indictment charges McMillan, Kirkman, Bos-Hernandez, Benson and McMillan & McMillan LLC, d/b/a American Coin Exchange with conspiracy to transport stolen goods. Kirkman, Bos-Hernandez, and Benson were also charged with transporting stolen goods and McMillan is charged with receiving stolen goods.
If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, up to 10 years in federal prison for the transporting charge, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the receipt charge.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Groves Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Peacock.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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