Nevada, Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Approximately $1.5 Million from Employer and Filing a False Tax Return

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Nevada, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which he embezzled approximately $1.5 million from his employer and to failing to disclose the embezzled funds as income on his federal income tax returns.

Justin R. Marquardt, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return.

By pleading guilty today, Marquardt admitted that he stole approximately $1.5 million from his employer’s bank accounts and used those funds for his personal benefit. Marquardt held the title of executive director at his company and by virtue of his position, had access to all company finances and financial accounts from 1994 to 2023. As part of his scheme, Marquardt, without authorization, transferred funds from his employer’s bank accounts to his personal accounts and wrote himself unauthorized checks from business bank accounts. Marquardt spent most of the money on personal expenses, including travel and gambling online and at casinos. To hide his embezzlement, Marquardt omitted these unauthorized transactions from the business’s QuickBooks ledger that he provided to an accountant and tax preparer. Marquardt also recorded false and fraudulent payments as business expenses in the QuickBooks records to conceal his embezzlement.

For tax years 2017 – 2020 and 2023, Marquardt filed United States federal income tax returns on Forms 1040 in which he willfully failed to report his embezzled income.

Under federal statutes, Marquardt is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on the wire fraud count and up to 3 years’ imprisonment on the filing a false tax return count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.

ICE Arrests Pedophile Criminal Illegal Alien and Gang Member Living in San Diego Child Daycare

DHS News Release:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of Public Affairs

ICE Arrests Pedophile Criminal Illegal Alien and Gang Member Living in San Diego Child Daycare

Under Secretary Noem, we are not allowing pedophiles to prey on children at daycares or schools

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico and convicted child sex offender with an extensive history of criminal behavior and three prior removals from the U.S. This criminal illegal alien, a documented member of the Logan Heights gang, was living with his wife, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient who operates an in-home daycare.

His criminal record includes convictions for sex offenses involving a child under 14, sexual battery, illegal possession of a firearm, driving under the influence, and robbery.

“It is SICKENING to think this pedophile criminal illegal alien was residing inside the home where a daycare operates and hiding out in a sanctuary city,” said a Senior DHS Official. “Thanks to the brave work of our ICE law enforcement officers, this criminal illegal alien, convicted pedophile, and known Logan Heights gang member—will no longer be able to prey on children inside a daycare. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, sickos like this will not walk free in the U.S.”

Ezequiel Cruz-Rodriguez was first issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge and was removed on Augst 23, 1996. He was removed a second time on October 28, 2003. He was then removed a third time on December 14, 2012.

He illegally re-entered the U.S. at unknown date and time.

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