Indictment: Kansas Man’s Autopsy Business Was Based on Fraudulent Claims

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man who ran an autopsies-for-hire business was indicted today on federal fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

In addition to criminal penalties, the indictment seeks to recover more than $1 million in fees paid by the defendant’s clients. Victims are encouraged to email NASVictims@fbi.gov or call 316-660-6439.

Shawn Lynn Parcells, 41, Leawood, Kan., is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud.

The indictment alleges Parcells falsely led clients to believe they would receive an autopsy report prepared by a pathologist. In fact, in most of the cases, no pathologist was involved in the work on the autopsies. Parcells was not a physician and not a pathologist. He worked from 1996 to 2003 as a pathologist’s assistant with the Jackson County, Mo., Medical Examiner’s Office.

Parcells offered private autopsy services through his business, National Autopsy Services, based in Topeka. Clients generally paid a basic fee of $3,000 plus expenses up front for a full pathological study and diagnosis as the cause of a death of a family member.

The indictment alleges that from May 11, 2016, to May 5, 2019, Parcells obtained fees from at least 375 clients for a total amount of more than $1.1 million, but failed to provide a completed report in the majority of cases.

If convicted, Parcells could face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI and the Kansas Attorney General’s office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Karilyn Primeau, 47, Smithville, Mo., is charged with one count of conspiracy to bribe a public official.

The indictment alleges that Primeau, who is the wife of an inmate, paid a guard at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks in Leavenworth, Kan., to smuggle cell phones into the facility for use by inmates.

If convicted, she could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.

Nicholas Newman, 19, Kansas City, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with three counts of distributing marijuana (counts 1, 3 and 5), two counts of distributing methamphetamine (counts 2 and 4), one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count 6), two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (counts 7 and 8), one count of robbery and theft of a firearm (count 9), one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (count 10) and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (count 11). The crimes are alleged to have occurred in January and February 2020 in Wyandotte County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

          Counts 1, 3 and 5: Up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

          Counts 2 and 4: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.

          Count 6: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Counts 7 and 8: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 9: Up to 25 years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 10: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 11: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania is prosecuting.

This prosecution by the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Dionta Washington, 29, Kansas City, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with five counts of distributing marijuana (counts 1, 2, 3, and 5), one count of distributing methamphetamine (court 4), two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 6 and 10), two counts of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 7 and 9 ) and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana (count 8). The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2019 and 2020 in Johnson County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

          Counts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8: Up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 4: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.

          Counts 6 and 10: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Counts 7 and 9: Up to four years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania is prosecuting.

This prosecution by the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Brandon Banister, 35, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin (count 1), one count of distributing marijuana (count 2), one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count 3) and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (count 4). The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 27, 2020, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
          Count 1: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million.

          Count 2: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 3: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Count 4: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania is prosecuting.

This prosecution by the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Allen E. Standish, 32, of Stafford County, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 27, 2020, in Stafford County, Kan.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Joshua J. Suazo, 24, Garden City, Kan., and Alexis M. Valverde, 29, Garden City, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (count 1), one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin (count 2) and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count 3). In addition, Valverde is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (count 4) and Suazo is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances (count 5). The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 20, 2020, in Garden City, Kan.

          Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

          Counts 1 and 2: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.

          Count 3: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.

          Counts 4 and 5: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Garden City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.