Related Federal Cases
Arson Charges for Gold Rush Exchange Owner
Kansas City, MO – William ‘Bill’ Joseph Reneau, 41, of Overland Park, Kansas, has been charged in federal court with participating in a conspiracy to commit arson against a rival business and a residence.
Reneau, owner of Gold Rush Exchange, a business with locations on 40 Highway and 24 Highway in Independence, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, MO.
The complaint alleges that Reneau participated in a conspiracy to destroy Bobby Jackson’s Trading, a gold-buying business operated by a former employee of Reneau’s at 302 E. 23rd Street in Independence.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Reneau hired others to damage Bobby Jackson’s Trading in July and August of 2017, then to burn the business as well as a residence owned by his wife’s ex-husband in August 2018. Reneau allegedly paid R.Y. $800 to damage the Bobby Jackson’s Trading building and $800 for setting the fire. He also allegedly paid $500 to another person, T.T., to have the Independence residence burned down.
The damage to Bobby Jackson’s Trading was approximately $10,000 in July 2017 and $5,000 in August 2017. The fire at the residence caused an unknown amount of damage, but investigators found evidence of gasoline at the scene.
T.T. told investigators that B.E., the store manager at Gold Rush Exchange, had hired him to commit the residential arson. T.T. admitted to burning his legs and sections of his arm in the process of setting the fire and to losing his keys to his vehicle, a Pontiac G6.
The investigation was led by the Independence Police Department, and the case is being prosecuted by federal authorities. Reneau’s arraignment is set for a later date.
Gold Rush Exchange has locations on 40 Highway and 24 Highway in Independence, MO. Bobby Jackson’s Trading is located at 302 E. 23rd Street in Independence, MO.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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