BENTON, IL – The last piece of a sprawling stolen property fraud ring fell into place this morning as Angel Speed, 26, admitted guilt to federal crimes in a Benton, Illinois courtroom. With Speed’s plea, all fifteen defendants initially charged in the operation have now confessed, bringing an end to a case that stretched across multiple states and involved the theft of high-value goods.
The ringleader, Jason J. Parmeley, 42, formerly of O’Fallon, MO, orchestrated the scheme from Mexico, utilizing stolen credit account numbers from retail giants like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, and SunBelt Rentals. Parmeley would place large orders for appliances, computers, tools, and construction equipment, then dispatch drivers to collect the goods. These items were then offloaded at significantly reduced prices, with the profits wired back to Parmeley in Mexico. Mexican authorities deported Parmeley in late August of 2015, and he has remained in federal custody since.
Speed’s role, as he admitted today, was crucial to the operation’s success. He provided essential computer support for the scheme while operating in Mexico, relayed instructions to the drivers responsible for picking up the stolen merchandise, and actively participated in laundering the illicit profits. Specifically, Speed used a false name to collect wire transfers sent to Parmeley by other conspirators within the United States. This ensured the flow of money remained concealed and untraceable.
The FBI’s investigation has already resulted in significant prison sentences for several key players. James D. Litchfield, 59, owner of Big Jim’s Autorama in Madison, IL, received 3 years in prison on June 7, 2016, alongside his brother, Ryan P. Litchfield, 37, of O’Fallon, MO, who was sentenced to 1 year. Shannan M. Flora, 42, and Rigoberto Gutierrez, 28, both received 15-month sentences on October 4, 2016, for their respective roles in sales and shipment coordination. Russell J. Witt, 34, and Sean A. Shields, 48, were sentenced to 12 months each on October 12 and December 13, 2016, respectively, for driving and purchasing stolen goods.
Five additional defendants received probation: Nicholas A. Brockman, 20, of Wentzville, MO; Benedict G. Pellerito, 56, of Troy, MO; Bryce E. Atkinson, 22, of Lake Saint Louis, MO; Alice J. Hembree, 44, of Moscow Mills, MO; and Tony G. Robertson, 45, of O’Fallon, MO. Brockman, Pellerito, Atkinson, and Robertson all served as drivers, while Hembree handled administrative and bookkeeping tasks. The remaining four defendants – Steven J. Belcher, 45, of St. Charles, MO (March 28, 2017); Jesse S. Urias, 38, of Compton, CA (March 30, 2017); Jason J. Parmeley (May 4, 2017); and Angel Speed (June 22, 2017) – await sentencing.
The investigation was led by agents from the St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who received substantial assistance throughout the case. This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to dismantling complex criminal enterprises that exploit financial systems and impact businesses and consumers nationwide.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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