FBI Nails Two in Missouri Scam Targeting 90+ People

The FBI in St. Louis say that two men have admitted to running a scheme that lasted for nearly 20 years and cost more than 90 in Missouri at least $3 million dollars.

The FBI in St. Louis shared the news of this confession on their Facebook page today about two men who ran a fraudulent business out of Perryville, Missouri for two decades.

The United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Missouri say "James “Jim” Johnson, 77, and Darrell Niswonger, 68, each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count each of wire fraud, securities fraud and investment adviser fraud". They say the pair offered investments in municipal bonds, but the money instead went to each of them for their own personal use. They reportedly convinced many to move their investments from legitimate interests to their scheme. By the time they were shut down in April of 2025, they owed investors more than $3 million dollars, but the FBI says there was less than $22,000 in the bank account where the investors money was deposited.

“Today, Jim Johnson and Darrell Niswonger finally admitted that they had been bilking clients for almost 20 years,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “This fraud has affected a large number of Perryville-area residents, many of whom knew or were even related to Johnson and Niswonger. It has been not only a betrayal of trust but a major financial loss for them. We will do our best to try and recover as much money as possible for these victims.”