Indictment: Former Controller Embezzled $175,000+ from Kechi Company

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A grand jury returned an indictment here today charging the former controller of a company in Kechi with embezzling more than $175,000, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Richard H. Yust, 64, Hutchinson, Kan., is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The crimes took place while Yurst was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of F&H Insulation Sales and Service, Inc. The indictment alleges he used company credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and he made unauthorized payments to his wife and son.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Jose Badilla, 33, Kansas City, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, two counts of maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March and August 2017 in Wyandotte County, Kan.

The indictment alleges Badilla maintained residences in furtherance of drug trafficking in the 2800 block of North 51st Street and the 3500 block of Ohio Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on each count.

Possession with intent to distribute heroin: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million.

Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

Maintaining a drug involved premises: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $500,000 on each count.

Possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.

The Kansas Bureau of investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Angel D. Mora, 18, Kansas City, Kan., and Ramiro G. Whitney, 20, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with stealing pistols, rifles and shotguns from Little Joe’s Pawn and Gun in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Robert M. Purinton, 69, formerly of Overland Park, Kan., is charged with three counts of filing false tax returns for 2010, 2011 and 2012 that failed to report some of his income.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.

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