Conspiracy and Fraud Charges

January 15, 2010 - Two area men have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to give and accept bribes in connection with bank loans, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today. According to the indictment, the conspiracy lasted from July 2006 to July 2008. Yuriy Shrifteylik offered bribes to David Ryan Hunt, a financial services manager with Commerce Bank, in return for Hunt’s assistance in facilitating four loans. The four loans total approximately two million dollars. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Shrifteylik submitted various false documents to obtain two of the loans, which were for the purchase of MRI machines. The indictment charges that the funds were used for other purposes.

YURIY SHRIFTEYLIK, St. Louis, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy and one felony count of giving a bribe in connection with the loans, two felony counts of bank fraud and four felony counts of wire fraud.

DAVID RYAN HUNT, Eureka, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy and one felony count of receiving a bribe in connection with the loans.

If convicted, the conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; each of the other counts carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or fines up to $1,000,000.

Reap commended the work performed on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Rosemary Meyers, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.