Christian County assessor indicted for mail fraud

A federal grand jury has indicted Christian County Assessor Sandra Bryant-Littles on charges of mail fraud after she allegedly failed to assess her own property for personal property taxes.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri charged Bryant-Littles, of Clever, in a sealed, four-count indictment Wednesday. The indictment was unsealed and made public today.

"As the elected Christian County Assessor, Sandra Bryant-Littles was charged with the duty to honestly assess property owners for the value of their taxable personal property," U.S. Attorney Matt Whitworth said in a written statement. "Bryant-Littles allegedly lied on her own assessment forms as part of a scheme to defraud the taxpayers and voters of Christian County."

According to the indictment, Bryant-Littles and her husband owned property under their own names and under a business name from Dec. 31, 2006 to Feb. 19, 2009, but she allegedly filed personal property tax assessment lists for herself and the business that omitted substantial taxable property, including six vehicles, a motorcycle, two tractors, three utility and flat-bed trailers, a horse trailer and more than 100 head of cattle.

Bryant-Littles is charged with mail fraud because she allegedly knew that the property tax bills sent to her and to the business understated the amount owed.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich and was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the state Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force.

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