Branson West man indicted on money laundering charges

A Branson West man has been indicted for allegedly committing money laundering in the operation of an investment business.

David Vernon Lott, 69, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly running a money laundering operation between July 18, 2025, and Aug. 4, 2025, according to a news release from the office of R. Matthew Price, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Lott owned and operated Missouri Holding Group Inc. and allegedly used funds from investors for personal expenses. According to the indictment, the defendant allegedly paid off a personal residence, and when he sold it in 2025, used the proceeds on 12 separate transactions above $10,000.

At MHG, Lott had allegedly promised potential investors returns of 10:1 that would be repaid in a short period of time, according to the release.

Lott was previously charged with allegedly defrauding MHG investors by the Missouri attorney general's office, according to past reporting. 

A jury trial at the Taney County Circuit Court is set for Jan. 11-15, 2027, Missouri online court records show.

Lott also faces a jury trial in Stone County Circuit Court set for Oct. 13-16 on three felony counts of stealing $25,000 or more, two felony counts of criminal securities fraud linked to an elderly or disabled person and one felony county of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person.

He also pleaded guilty in 2014 to embezzling at least $25,000 from the Branson Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center, in which he was a partner, SBJ archives show.