KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted, in separate cases, as part of a nationwide enforcement action related to the distribution of opioids and other dangerous narcotics.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced earlier today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts. Many of the defendants included in today’s national announcement are medical professionals, including doctors and nurses. In the two local cases, however, the defendants are not medical professionals but are charged with conduct related to the possession and distribution of controlled substances.
USA v. Toombs
William E. Toombs, Jr., also known as “Zorro" or “Big Z," 59, of Kansas City, was charged in a 10-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 29, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Toombs’s arrest and initial court appearance on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
The federal indictment charges Toombs with nine counts of possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute. On June 19, 2015, Toombs allegedly possessed crack cocaine, Oxycodone, Morphine, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Alprazolam and Diazepam with the intent to distribute. On April 25, 2016, Toombs allegedly possessed heroin with the intent to distribute. On May 4, 2016, Toombs allegedly possessed Oxycodone, Methadone, Hydrocodone and Alprazolam with the intent to distribute.
Toombs is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Toombs, who has a prior felony conviction, allegedly possessed a Taurus.45 Long Colt/410 gauge revolver on June 19, 2015.
USA v. Cunningham
Josef Cunningham, Jr., also known as Carl Thomas, 31, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on June 29, 2017.
The federal indictment charges Cunningham with one count of possessing Oxycodone between April 25 and June 10, 2015, with the intent to distribute. Cunningham is also charged with five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Cunningham allegedly obtained Oxycodone and Codeine using fraudulent prescriptions.
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
