According to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tammy Dickinson, announced that three Kansas City, Missouri men were convicted in a federal court for their part in a conspiracy plot to steal $1 million worth of trucks, trailers and cargo.
“Kenneth Ray Borders, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., Jon Dirk Dickerson, 56, of Raytown, Mo., and his son, Kyle Wayne Dickerson, 31, of Holden, Mo., were found guilty of the charges contained in a Dec. 14, 2012, federal indictment. They were taken into federal custody immediately after the verdicts were returned by the jury,” the DOJ press release states.
The DOJ said that evidence presented at the trial indicated that Borders, Jon and Kyle participated in a conspiracy to steal trucks and their cargo from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The men sometimes used the stolen trucks to make money by hauling loads.
In total, 5 Freightliners and 17 trailers were stolen. The stolen trailers contained 39,000 pounds of meat, 565 boxes of beef valued at $149,790, $125,000 worth of frozen ribs, as well as several refrigerated trailers that each contained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of frozen chicken valued at $59,706 and 21,018 pounds of Little Sizzler sausages.
In addition, the trailers contained $16,657 in Budweiser beer, $217,353 in Nike shoes.
“Stolen cargo was sold cheaply to anyone who would buy it,” the DOJ press release states.
Some of the cargo was sold directly out of the back of the trailer and other times it was sold at a convenience store owned by Myron Piggie, 52, who was earlier found guilty to possessing stolen property.
Piggie accepted 12 pallets of stolen Budweiser worth $7,466. Piggie agreed to sell the beer at his gas station and split the profit with Borders, Dickerson and Dickerson, however, once he learned that police were aware of the stolen beer, Piggie panicked and gave away the beer.
Borders reportedly helped steal the trucks and then sold the cargo. He also sometimes fronted money by allowing his customer to pay for the cargo after they sold the product. Borders used the stolen trucks and trailers to haul loads to make money for himself.
Jon Dickerson had the first right to purchase the stolen trucks and trailers. Dickerson reportedly gave Borders a “shopping list” of trucks and trailers he wanted.
Kyle Dickerson, John’s don, was also involved in stealing the trucks and trailers.
Jon and Kyle used the trucks and trailers at their own trucking company. They sometimes used the trucks for parts, sold them as scrap or used them to haul loads. The Dickerson’s altered the trucks to disguise them.
The Dickerson’s did not maintain their trucks and most were in bad condition.
The DOT/FMCSA and other law enforcement repeatedly cited the Dickerson’s company and drivers for failing inspections and violating regulations. The carrier racked up $450,000 in fines. The FMCSA ordered Dickerson’s company out of service, but the order was ignored.
“At a DOT roadside inspection, a Dickerson truck, trailer, or cargo could be delayed, or even impounded, if their poor record or condition prompted too many questions. The Dickersons’ scheme, however, included a way to downplay this risk. The Dickersons operated what is known in the industry as “chameleon carriers.” They simply abandoned their old company – along with its “baggage” of safety violations, “out of service” orders, and unpaid fines – and began operating with a new company under a new name. Thus, after Jon Dickerson’s company Fish and More was subject to more than $150,000 in fines and four orders to cease interstate transportation, he began operating under the name D&T Trucking. After D&T Trucking was subject to nearly $300,000 in fines and 17 orders to cease interstate transportation, the United States obtained a civil injunction and default judgment, and D&T Trucking was permanently enjoined from operating in interstate commerce. At that point, Kyle Dickerson got a DOT number for Night Line Trucking and Repair. Night Line Trucking and Repair received an unsatisfactory safety rating and an order to cease interstate transportation. The Dickersons then started operating under the name Nightline Trucking, LLC,” the DOJ states.
Borders was found guilty of conspiracy, four counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods, one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles.
Jon Dickerson was also found guilty of three counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles.
Kyle Dickerson was also found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen vehicles, two counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles.
A jury in the U.S. District Court of Kansas City, Missouri deliberated for three days before returning the guilty verdict.
Borders faces up to 65 years in prison without parole and a fine of $1,750,000.
Jon and Kyle Dickerson face up to 45 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1,250,000.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Gregg R. Coonrod and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindi S. Woolery. It was investigated by the Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the National White Collar Crime Center, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, Travelers Investigative Services, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Florida State Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.