Former Willard mayor charged with wire fraud, identity theft convicted

Lina PortmanAugust 27, 2024

3 3 minutes read

Former Willard mayor charged with wire fraud, identity theft convicted

A former Willard Alderman who had also served as mayor was sentenced in federal court Monday for one felony count of wire fraud and one felony count of aggravated identity theft.

Corey Hendrickson had pleaded guilty earlier to both counts and was sentenced by Judge Brian Wimes in US District Court for the Western District of Missouri to a total of three years in prison without parole. Hendrickson also was ordered to pay more than $318,000 in restitution, according to electronic court records.

Before taking his seat as an Alderman, Hendrickson was mayor of the town for three two-year terms, according to previous News-Leader reporting. He was first elected in April 2015 but then lost his fourth reelection run to the previous mayor, Sam Snider, in 2021. He took the Alderman seat in April 2022 and resigned on the same day the federal charges were filed in late October.

The charges stem from Hendrickson's time as a fleet dispatcher at Prime Incorporated, a trucking company in Springfield. According to court documents, he stole money from the company from approximately Sept. 9, 2016, to Aug. 17, 2021. In total, he embezzled almost $300,000.

With the time of the embezzlement overlapping with Hendrickson's time in office, some Willard residents have called for a state audit of the city's finances. While the Willard Board of Aldermen budgeted roughly $100,000 for the costs of the audit, they left it up to citizens to petition for the audit instead of requesting it themselves.

What did Hendrickson do?

According to the court documents filed with the charges, all drivers for Prime Inc. had individual accounts and purchasing cards through ComData that gave them access to money to buy fuel for their trucks. The accounts were accessible via each driver's Social Security number. Hendrickson had access to the personal information of the drivers and their ComData accounts.

The court documents state Hendrickson used drivers' names and Social Security numbers to gain access to their accounts and with Drew money into his various personal financial accounts. It is estimated that Hendrickson made 1,078 fraudulent transactions and accessed the accounts of 500 different drivers throughout the five-year period.

He also wrote checks from drivers' accounts to the Travel Center of America gas station in Strafford, which he would then use cash for his personal expenses.

At Monday's sentencing, one of the victims, William Ullom, addressed the judge and emphasized the harm done by Hendrickson will be something that will jeopardize his and his daughters' futures forever.

Assistant US Attorney Patrick Carney called on Hendrickson to serve 36 months for the wire fraud and an additional 24 months for the identity theft.

“I don't know if this ever stops, if the harm done by Mr. Hendrickson ever lets up,” Carney said while addressing the court.

Carney said that if Ullom had not reported the crime to the Springfield Police Department, Hendrickson would have never been caught and would have continued to defraud people. Carney believed the total 60-month sentence “could be bordering on generous” if the court considers the plethora of other charges that could have been filed, including money laundering or even possible tax fraud.

Hendrickson's attorney, Joseph Passanise, emphasized his lack of a criminal record, dedication to serving the community through public service and cooperation during the court process as he sought a lighter sentence of just 24 months for identity theft.

“He's lost everything,” Passanise said regarding Hendrickson's job, standing in the community and broken trust.

More: New mayor for Willard, Fair Grove alderman elected in special election Tuesday

In his statement, Hendrickson said he took full responsibility for the damage he had done and apologized to the innocent people he had harmed.

Wimes landed in the middle of the dueling recommendations with a total sentence of three years, supervised release for two years and restitution of more than $318,000. He said the psychological damage and the impact on individuals' financial safety and security is “devastating” in these types of offenses. In addition to the restitution, Hendrickson will also have to pay $200 in special assessments and forfeit more than $290,000.

Hendrickson will be allowed to self-surrender on Sept. 30 before 2 pm He requested to be detained at the Yankton federal prison, a minimum-security male prison in South Dakota. While Wimes said that request will be made, he could not guarantee that Hendrickson will be placed there.

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at [email protected].

What did Hendrickson do?

Lina Portman

Related Articles

One person arrested, another transported with gunshot wound after scene on Wilson Road

Al-Qaeda leader and more than 100 militants killed in Burkina Faso

Man Shot, Another Stabbed in Olney – NBC10 Philadelphia

Police release images of suspects in murder of 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor