MAY 6-12, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 25 NEWS by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net A Springfield certified public accountant has pleaded guilty to an embezzlement scheme to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ray Leonard Marple, 61, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to federal information that charges him with a count each of wire fraud and making a false federal tax return, according to a news release from the office of Teresa Moore, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Marple admitted to embezzling $432,981 from a revocable trust account following the death of the grantor. The activity took place from July 7, 2017, through May 3, 2023. According to Moore’s office, Marple used withdrawals from the trust fund under his control for personal expenses, including a residential property in Springfield. The plea agreement indicates Marple would have been entitled to trustee fees of around $17,500 during the period of the criminal activity. Marple, who has operated his own accounting firm since 1999, additionally admitted to underreporting his income on his 2018-20 federal tax returns. He reportedly owes $59,622 in federal income taxes. The plea agreement’s terms stipulate that Marple must pay up to $415,481 in restitution to the trust and at least $59,622 in restitution to the IRS, according to the release. He also must forfeit to the government a money judgment of $415,481 and his Springfield residential property. A sentencing hearing is slated to be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. Federal statutes indicate he could be subject to up to 23 years in federal prison without parole. • 1308 N. Glenstone Ave. | Springfield, MO 65802 | 417-832-1117 Your secret to affordable healthcare • Lower Premium Costs • Lower Out Of Pocket Costs • Wide Range of Medical and Occupational Services • Retention and Happy Employees • Increased Productivity • 24/7 Emergency Service Call For Your FREE Consultation 417.447.4400 | CarnahanEvans.com The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. A Full Service Business and Estate Planning Law Firm • Corporate & General Business • Tax & Estate Planning • Real Estate • Labor & Employment • Banking • Litigation & Dispute Resolution • Employee Benefits • Construction • Cooperative & Utility • Marijuana & Hemp authorized to vote on or make any decision related to new rental space that he had a personal financial interest in.” Hulston also alleges in the lawsuit that Tillman increased salaries related to the business partners’ holdings for himself, his wife and their daughter, Jamie, without Hulston’s permission. Included within the allegations presented in the lawsuit are claims that Ozark Endeavors’ credit cards were used by James and Lisa Tillman for personal use, such as movie purchases and travel expenses, and for unrelated business ventures. “Hulston has demanded of Tillman that he provide all credit card statements and a business justification for all suspicious charges on the Ozark Endeavors’ credit cards. Tillman has refused,” the lawsuit reads. Related to Kansas & Kearney LLC, the lawsuit alleges Tillman represented to a real estate agent that he was the sole owner and negotiated and signed an $825,000 letter of intent to sell the property without disclosing those actions to Hulston. The suit seeks damages and for the court to remove Tillman as the manager of the plaintiff LLCs. “Tillman has instructed employees not to provide business information to Hulston; not divulge transaction information; and withhold business documents,” the lawsuit alleges. “He has attempted to misappropriate additional funds by creating fictitious invoices for another of his businesses and demanding plaintiffs pay them. He makes demeaning, disparaging and unprofessional statements to Hulston and other employees about Hulston.” Evans & Dixon LLC attorney Kevin Dunaway, who is representing the Tillmans, denied the allegations against his clients in an interview with Springfield Business Journal. “We’ll staunchly defend and deny those allegations in court,” Dunaway said. Dunaway said Hulston, who he classified as a “trust fund plaintiff” and “passive management investor,” has had “unfettered access” to reports involving business activity at the ventures. “There were better ways to go about resolving disagreements between equal business owners,” Dunaway said. “The plaintiff hasn’t offered any resolution as to management alternatives for the businesses, despite multiple requests to his counsel.” • Lawsuit: Tillman’s attorney denies claims Continued from page 3 2017 Year Ozark Endeavors was formed Springfield CPA pleads guilty to embezzlement scheme $433K Embezzled from revocable trust account Court Case
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy