Hudson Drive back at the Fishing Dock in Archie

Loch Lloyd man pleads guilty to "Rent-a-Vet Scheme to obtain more than $13.8 million in federal contracts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that former owners of a local construction company, Patriot Company, Inc., have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a “rent-a-vet” scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $13.8 million in federal contracts.

 

Jeffrey K. Wilson, 53, of the Village of Loch Lloyd in Belton, Mo., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of government program fraud. Paul R. Salavitch, 57, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, to a misdemeanor charge of making a false writing.

 

Wilson, who is not a veteran, managed the day-to-day operations and the long-term decision making of Patriot Company from May 2005 to January 2014. Salavitch is a service-disabled veteran who falsely certified that he was involved in the day-to-day operations of Patriot Company. Salavitch’s purported active management qualified Patriot Company to obtain set-aside contracts to which it was not entitled.

 

Wilson admitted he used Salavitch’s veteran and service-disabled veteran status in a “rent-a-vet” scheme to obtain 20 government contracts for which Patriot Company received more than $13.8 million. As a result of the fraud scheme, legitimate veteran-owned-and-run businesses were not awarded these contracts.

 

Wilson’s plea agreement cites 20 contracts with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Army, totaling $13,819,522, which were fraudulently obtained by Wilson, Salavitch and Patriot Company. 

The contracts, which ranged as high as $4.3 million, included construction projects in Missouri, South Dakota, Texas, Nebraska Oklahoma, Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois and North Dakota.

 

In September 2013, the Veterans Administration conducted an unannounced site visit of Patriot Company. The site inspector discovered that Salavitch was working 40 miles away at his full-time job as a federal employee with the Department of Defense in Leavenworth, Kan. In November 2013, Salavitch falsely certified to the Missouri Division of Purchasing and Materials Management that Patriot Company was a legitimate service-disabled veteran-owned small business when he knew it was not because he did not actively run the company. In December 2013, the Veterans Administration de-certified Patriot Company.

 

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Wilson is subject to a sentence of up to 18 months in federal prison without parole. Salavitch is subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison without parole. Wilson and Salavitch must also consent to the federal civil forfeiture of approximately $2.1 million. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Pansing Brown, Stacey Perkins Rock and Curt Bohling. It was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General – Criminal Investigation Division and the General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General.

 

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

 

http://www.justice.gov/wdmo

February is National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month, and it begins with Wear Red Day (February 2nd). According the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute. 

The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women website is a wealth of information for risks, causes and prevention, dispelling myths and dispensing tips for heart disease patients. www.goredforwomen.org
Are you wearing red on February 2nd?

Obituary - Barbara Ann McGinness

Barbara Ann McGinness, 72, of Clinton, Missouri died Saturday evening, January 27, 2018.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Friday at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Interment will be in Englewood Cemetery. Services under the direction of the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, Mo. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.

Obituary - Anthony Deweese Herdliska

Anthony Deweese Herdliska, age 17, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away on January 26, 2018, in Warsaw. He was born on June 22, 2000, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Anthony attended Warsaw High School and enjoyed basketball, playing guitar, and entertaining his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Sandy Herdliska.

He is survived by his mother, Jennifer Meginn, of the home, his father, Joseph Herdliska, of Springfield, Missouri, 3 brothers, Austin Herdliska, of Nevada, Missouri, Jonathan Herdliska, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Drew Herdliska, of Springfield, Missouri, one sister, Stephanie Brown of Alabama, other relatives and friends.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M., Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Reser Funeral Home, in Warsaw.

Obituary Kenneth Lee Jones

Kenneth Lee Jones passed away Sunday, January 28, at Keller, Texas. The Rich Hill native and retired Radio Shack employee was 77. 

Local arrangements are under direciton of the Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill. 

Memorials to the Carbon Center Cemetery are suggested and can be made in care of Ronald Bolse

Vehicle fire at Hudson School

The Appleton City Fire Department along with Bates County Sheriff's Deputies are on scene of a vehicle fire at the Hudson School which is located just west of Appleton City of Missouri 52 Highway.

Mid America Live News will update when more information is made available to us at a later time.

Obituary - John R. Browning

John R. Browning, age 67 of Clinton passed away January 31, 2018 at Clinton Healthcare and Rehabilitation. Fond memories and condolunces may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Memorial service will be on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 2pm with visitation one hour prior to service at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton. The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Trinity Lutheran Church and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton.