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KC Lawyer Pleads to Money Laundering Charges

By David Meyer

01/31/2013

(KAIR) -- A Kansas City lawyer has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder the drug money of an undercover agent posing as a marijuana dealer in federal court.

Ronald Partee of Kansas City, Missouri, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of money laundering.

In his plea, Partee admitted he conspired with co-defendants Mendy Read-Forbes and Laura Shoop, both of Platte City, who were indicted by a grand jury January 24th.

The investigation began in March 2012 when a U.S. Secret Service agent working undercover met Read-Forbes.

According to a release from U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom’s office, she was holding herself out as the owner of Forbes & Newhard Credit Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization established to provide credit counseling to people who were in bankruptcy proceedings.

Grissom says she was not the legal owner but exercised control of the company's bank account along with Partee. Shoop was an acquaintance of Read-Forbes who worked at various times for the company.

As part of the scheme, a certificate saying the purported dealer had completed training as a bankruptcy specialist was created.

Prosecutors say that Partee served on the counseling service's board and approved two wire transfers that he believed were drug funds.

He also engaged in a discussion with the undercover agent about the storage of marijuana.

Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a five-year prison sentence. A sentencing date hasn't been set.

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