The last person remaining in jail for allegedly bilking the City of Nixa out of a million dollars has been released on his own recognizance.
David Griggs was charged in a federal criminal complaint last week by U. S. Attorney For The Western District of Missouri, Matt J. Whitworth.
Griggs was released following his detention hearing in federal court in Springfield on Monday, said Don Ledford, public affairs officer for Whitworth's office.
Ledford said the next step in the federal process is that a grand jury, "will hear evidence in the case and could return with an indictment with the same or similar charges filed in the criminal complaint. He added, "that could include the same or additional co-defendants."
Griggs was originally charged with felony stealing charges in Christian County in late February that alleged he and former Nixa street superintendent Larry Covington, along with Covington's wife, Paula, stole more than one million dollars in a purchase order scheme that included bogus companies the trio fraudulently began in 2004.
Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek dropped the state charges against Griggs on April 15 when the feds decided to take the case.
David Griggs was charged in a federal criminal complaint last week by U. S. Attorney For The Western District of Missouri, Matt J. Whitworth.
Griggs was released following his detention hearing in federal court in Springfield on Monday, said Don Ledford, public affairs officer for Whitworth's office.
Ledford said the next step in the federal process is that a grand jury, "will hear evidence in the case and could return with an indictment with the same or similar charges filed in the criminal complaint. He added, "that could include the same or additional co-defendants."
Griggs was originally charged with felony stealing charges in Christian County in late February that alleged he and former Nixa street superintendent Larry Covington, along with Covington's wife, Paula, stole more than one million dollars in a purchase order scheme that included bogus companies the trio fraudulently began in 2004.
Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek dropped the state charges against Griggs on April 15 when the feds decided to take the case.
Griggs and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection in December stating that they were about $200,000 in debt from medical bills, student and home loans as well as credit card debt. The Griggses' said they only had about $450.00 in liquid assets, that included some vehicles and personal property.
In March, the trustee in charge of the Griggses' bankruptcy said that Griggs did not list assets from either of his bogus companies, Tri-State Supply or Airborne Specialists....therefore he withdrew a report filed in federal court that stated the couple didn't have the money to pay their creditors.
Criminal charges of stealing are still pending in Christian County against the Covingtons; a couple of civil suits have been filed against the couple as well.
The Covington's are currently out of jail on bond....Paula Covington was released after posting $10,000 bond--Larry Covington on $100,000 bond with special conditions set forth in the bond that include him wearing court-ordered GPS monitoring device.
As of noon today (04-22-09) Ledford said no federal complaints against the Covington's have been filed.
The Covington's are currently out of jail on bond....Paula Covington was released after posting $10,000 bond--Larry Covington on $100,000 bond with special conditions set forth in the bond that include him wearing court-ordered GPS monitoring device.
As of noon today (04-22-09) Ledford said no federal complaints against the Covington's have been filed.
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