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Stolen Property Fraud Ring Member Pleads Guilty in Illinois
Angel Speed, 26, a member of a large stolen property fraud ring, has pleaded guilty to federal crimes in connection with the ring’s operation in the Metro East and other locations.
Speed’s guilty plea was announced by Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, in federal court in Benton, Illinois. Speed is the 15th defendant to plead guilty in the case, which involves a conspiracy to commit stolen property fraud.
The ring’s leader, Jason J. Parmeley, 42, formerly of O’Fallon, MO, was deported from Mexico in August 2015 and has been held in federal custody since then. Parmeley admitted in his plea hearing that he used the internet to obtain credit account numbers from individuals and businesses, and then ordered items from stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards using those account numbers.
Parmeley further admitted that he dispatched drivers to pick up the items, which were then sold at prices substantially below retail. The profits were wire transferred to Parmeley in Mexico, where he lived and controlled the fraud ring.
Speed admitted that he assisted Parmeley with the operation of the conspiracy in Mexico, including computer work, relaying instructions to drivers, and laundering the profits of the scheme. He also admitted to using a false name to pick up profits of the fraud scheme that had been wire transferred to Parmeley in Mexico.
So far, six defendants have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the conspiracy. They include James D. Litchfield, 59, owner of Big Jim’s Autorama in Madison, IL, who was sentenced to 3 years in prison; his brother, Ryan P. Litchfield, 37, of O’Fallon, MO, who was sentenced to 1 year in prison; Shannan M. Flora, 42, of O’Fallon, MO, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison; Rigoberto Gutierrez, 28, of Compton, CA, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison; Russell J. Witt, 34, of Mount Clemens, MI, who was sentenced to 12 months in prison; and Sean A. Shields, 48, of Ozark, MO, who was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
The investigation is being conducted by agents from the St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from other law enforcement agencies. Speed is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2017.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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