Everton man indicted for operating illegal business

An Everton man was indicted yesterday for allegedly operating a business that sold spent cooking oil stolen from restaurants in and around Missouri.

The indictment charges John Arnold, 61, of Everton, with three counts of money laundering related to the alleged cooking oil scheme. It also charges him with being a felon in possession of firearms, according to a news release from Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

From May 2010 through August 2011, Arnold allegedly sold $237,036 worth of stolen spent cooking oil to recyclers and used the proceeds to purchase several vehicles.

According to the indictment, Arnold purchased the oil from drivers who obtained it from restaurants, and operated a business under the name of J&A on his Everton property, roughly 29 miles northwest of Springfield. Spent cooking oil, the byproduct of cooking oil restaurants use for frying foods, is often sold by restaurants to collection and removal companies, the release said. The indictment doesn't list from which specific restaurants spent cooking oil was stolen.

With the allegedly illegal proceeds, Arnold purchased a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado in 2010 for $22,300; a 2009 Chevrolet G3500 in 2010 for $$18,100; and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado in 2011 for $45,100.

Arnold, who has a prior felony conviction, also was charged with possessing five firearms illegally on Dec. 3, 2012. The indictment includes forfeiture allegations, which would require Arnold to forfeit to the government the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, $90,000 in cash, all of the firearms and 156 rounds of ammo, the release said.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacoo, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.