U.S. Department
of Justice
Petro America
(Read The Most Recent Information)
U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips announced criminal charges against Isreal Owen Hawkins,
the founder of Petro America, on Oct. 27, 2010.
KCK man charged in $7.2 million fraud scheme that targeted thousands of investors nationwide
KANSAS CITY - A Kansas City, Kan., man has been charged in federal court for his role in a $7.2 million securities fraud scheme that victimized thousands of investors across the United States. Isreal Owen Hawkins, 55, of Kansas City, Kan., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. Hawkins is the president and CEO of Petro America Corporation. The criminal complaint charges Hawkins with securities fraud and with structuring financial transactions in order to evade federal reporting requirements.
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Read the Criminal Complaint & Affidavit
Nov. 22, 2010
Petro America
Four defendants indicted in $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy;
Scheme targeted thousands of investors nationwide
KANSAS CITY - Four defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy that victimized thousands of investors across the United States who bought shares in Petro America Corporation, which was purported to be a profitable oil trading company. Isreal Owen Hawkins, 55, of Kansas City, Kan., Teresa Brown, 52 of Bandera, Texas, Johnny Heurung, 56, of Saint Paul, Minn., and Clarence Moore, 62, of Atlanta, Ga., were charged in an 14-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Hawkins on Oct. 26, 2010, and includes additional defendants and charges.
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Read the Indictment
June 14, 2011
Petro America
KCK, Texas ministers plead guilty to securities fraud conspiracy;
Scheme targeted thousands of investors nationwide
KANSAS CITY - A Kansas City, Kan., minister and a Waco, Texas minister pleaded guilty in federal court today to their roles in a $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy that victimized thousands of investors across the United States and Canada who bought shares in Petro America Corporation, which was purported to be a profitable company with $284 billion in assets. The Rev. Edward D. Halliburton, 56, of Kansas City, Kan., and Joseph Harrell, 49, of Waco, Texas, who acted as the CFO of Petro America, each waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. Halliburton and Harrell admitted that they conspired with others to obtain money through the fraudulent sale of Petro America stock by making misrepresentations and omissions to investors. They each received nearly $400,000 from the sale of Petro stock.
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June 15, 2011
Petro America
Eight more defendants indicted in $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy;
Scheme targeted thousands of investors nationwide
KANSAS CITY - Eight more defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy that victimized thousands of investors across the United States and Canada who bought shares in Petro America Corporation, which was purported to be a profitable company with $284 billion in assets. Martin Roper, 45, of Kansas City, Kan., Charles Hooker, 49, and Teresa Hill, 54, both of Kansas City, Mo., William Miller, 40, of Independence, Mo., Curtis White, 55, of Grandview, Mo., Allen Collins, 54, of Raymore, Mo., Russell Hopkins, 47, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Brian Langenbach, 42, of Globe, Ariz., were charged in a 20-count superseding indictment. Today’s indictment replaces a Nov. 22, 2010, federal indictment which charged four defendants – Isreal Owen Hawkins, 55, of Kansas City, Kan., Teresa Brown, 53 of Bandera, Texas, Johnny Heurung, 57, of Saint Paul, Minn., and Clarence Moore, 63, of Atlanta, Ga. – and includes additional charges against the new defendants.
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Superseding Indictment 
JuLY 13, 2011
Petro America
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy;
Scheme Targeted Thousands of Investors Nationwide
KANSAS CITY - Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Tuscaloosa, Ala., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a $7.2 million securities fraud conspiracy that victimized thousands of investors across the United States and Canada who bought shares in Petro America Corporation. Russell Hopkins, 47, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hays to the charge contained in a June 15, 2011, federal indictment.
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April 5, 2012
Raymore Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy;
Scheme Targeted Thousands of Investors Nationwide
April 11, 2012
KC Woman Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy
June 18, 2012
KC Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy
June 22, 2012
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy
August 14, 2012
Independence Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to $7.2 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy;
Scheme Targeted Thousands of Investors Nationwide
May 15, 2013