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Highland Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

By Associated Press/Greg Bebermeyer

04/02/2014

B.J. Smith

(AP/KNZA)--The head women’s basketball coach at Highland Community College has pleaded guilty to being part of a car theft ring.

William “B.J.” Smith pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy and five counts of mail fraud. Sentencing was scheduled for July 1st.

Prosecutors say Smith and 20 other people---mostly from the St. Louis area—stole or fraudulently obtained vehicles from individuals and automobile dealerships in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. They then staged accidents and filed false theft reports to obtain insurance money.

The St. Joseph New-Press reports Smith pleaded guilty to obtaining fraudulent transfer titles from the Osage Nation for five vehicles in 2011 and 2012. The transfer titles allowed the vehicles to be resold.

Smith led the HCC women’s basketball team to a second-place national finish less than two weeks ago. HCC administrators were unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

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