Jason Parmeley Pleads Guilty to Massive Stolen Property Fraud Ring

Jason J. Parmeley, 42, formerly of O’Fallon, Missouri, stood before a federal judge in Benton, Illinois, and admitted his role in orchestrating one of the region’s largest stolen property fraud operations. Parmeley pled guilty to 16 federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, for masterminding a criminal enterprise that siphoned high-value goods from national retailers using stolen credit accounts.

The scheme, which unfolded across the Metro East and beyond, relied on stolen credit information pulled from individuals and businesses. Parmeley used the data to place orders with major retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, and SunBelt Rentals, targeting expensive appliances, computers, power tools, and construction equipment. Once ordered, Parmeley dispatched drivers to retrieve the goods under false pretenses—items that were then sold at steep discounts on the underground market.

Proceeds from the illicit sales were funneled directly to Parmeley in Mexico, where he lived and managed the operation remotely. He admitted to directing the logistics from abroad, coordinating pickups, sales, and laundering profits through wire transfers. His plea covers one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, four counts of wire fraud, two counts of interstate transportation of property obtained by fraud, six counts of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Parmeley was deported from Mexico in late August 2015 and has remained in federal custody ever since. His guilty plea follows a sweeping indictment returned by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis on October 20, 2015, which charged 15 individuals in total. To date, five co-conspirators have already been sentenced: James D. Litchfield, 59, of Madison, Illinois, got three years in prison; his brother Ryan P. Litchfield, 37, of O’Fallon, Missouri, received one year; Shannan M. Flora, 42, and Rigoberto Gutierrez, 28, were each sentenced to 15 months; and Russell J. Witt, 34, of Mount Clemens, Michigan, got 12 months behind bars.

Three other drivers—Nicholas A. Brockman, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri; Benedict G. Pellerito, 56, of Troy, Missouri; and Bryce E. Atkinson, 22, of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri—received probation after admitting to short-term roles in transporting stolen merchandise. Meanwhile, five others—Tony G. Robertson, 44, of O’Fallon, Missouri; Sean A. Shields, 48, of Springfield, Missouri; Alice J. Hembree, 44, of Moscow Mills, Missouri; Steven J. Belcher, 44, of Wentzville, Missouri; and Jesse S. Urias, 36, of Los Angeles, California—have pled guilty and await sentencing.

The investigation was led by the St. Louis Division of the FBI, with critical support from the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, California Highway Patrol, and multiple local law enforcement agencies across state lines. The final defendant, Angel Speed, 25, formerly of O’Fallon, Missouri, is set to stand trial on February 6, 2017. Assistant United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce, who announced the plea, emphasized the reach and sophistication of the fraud ring, calling it a brazen, organized assault on commerce and consumer trust.