According to a press release from the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, a Kansas City, Missouri truck driver has been sentenced for his role in a 14-year-long conspiracy to steal more than $1 million worth of trucks, trailers and cargo.
U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays sentenced Kenneth Ray Borders, 43, to serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. In addition, Borders was ordered to pay $1,270,089 in restitution to his 27 victims.
The press release states that Borders’ previous history of truck, trailer and cargo theft in Nebraska were taken into consideration in his sentencing. Borders also has had “numerous instances of driving without a license or with a suspended license and was under a criminal sentence for driving while revoked during the conspiracy,” the press release states.
On February 28, 2014, Borders was found guilty in a conspiracy to steal trucks, trailers and cargo in Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska from 1998 to December 2013.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, “Borders was found guilty of 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,” the Attorney’s office states.
Also named in the case were co-defendants Jon Dirk Dickerson, 56, of Raytown, Mo., and Dickerson’s son, Kyle Wayne Dickerson, 32, of Holden, Mo.
They worked together to steal trucks, trailers, and cargo and then dispose of them. Sometimes they used the trucks and trailers themselves to make money by hauling loads for customers and sometimes they sold the stolen trucks and trailers.
The press release states that Borders role was the involvement was stealing the trucks, trailers and cargo and reselling the cargo.
Jon Dickerson had the “first right to purchase the stolen trucks and trailers” and even supplied Borders with a truck “shopping list.” The list contained trucks and trailers that he wanted.
Jon and Kyle Dickerson were also involved in stealing the trucks and trailers. They used the stolen property in their own trucking business, used them as replacement parts or sold them for scrap.
The men were accused of stealing five Freightliner trucks and 17 trailers between 2005 and 2011. The stolen trailers contained 39,000 pounds of meat; 565 boxes of beef valued at $149,790; $125,000 wroth of frozen ribs and several refrigerated trailers that contained frozen chicken. In addition, they were accused of stealing a cargo such as Budweiser beer, valued at $16,657; Nike shoes, valued at $217,353; and 21,018 pounds of Little Sizzler sausages.
The cargo was sold “cheaply.” Some of it was sold out of the back of the trailer and some was sold to a convenience store.
Jon Dickerson was found guilty on three counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles. His son, Kyle Dickerson, was found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods, two counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles. The two are awaiting sentencing.
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.