Camdenton man pleads guilty to fraud scheme

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Camdenton man pleaded guilty on Monday to a fraud scheme, the same day his trial was supposed to begin.

Ivan Joseph Stark, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and identity theft after he took more than $78,000 from someone he became romantically involved with.

Stark got the victim's credit cards, according to a news release from the U.S. Western District of Missouri attorney's office. He used the credit cards for multiple purchases, including down payments on vehicles and trailers, the release said.

Stark also opened a Square account under a false taxi transportation business. He made about $43,000 in transactions through the fake business, the release said. Most of that money was deposited directly into Stark's bank account.

Stark then asked for credit limit increases on the victim's credit cards and made false payments to the cards as well, according to the news release.

Stark could be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison, the release said.