Moberly man pleads guilty in federal fraud cause

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to fraudulently obtaining $284,840 through COVID-19 pandemic-era financial assistance, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Steven Hendren, 33, pleaded guilty in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud. He will be sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Hendren was indicted in December 2024 and was previously charged with three counts of wire fraud and a count of aggravated identity theft, previous reporting shows.

Previous reporting shows that Hendren had applied for rental assistance through the Missouri Housing Development Commission, had listed himself as a landlord and included fake lease agreement, financial statements and inflated rent amounts.

He faces up to 20 years in prison, the release says.