DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. – A Missouri woman is accused of impersonating state officials to gather confidential information about immigration and liquor licenses, allegedly in an effort to target competitors to her restaurant business.
The Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the Missouri Bootheel has charged Crystal Umfress, 44, of Columbia, Missouri, with three counts of forgery and two counts of filing false documents amid the investigation.
Court documents obtained by FOX 2 state that Umfress impersonated multiple Missouri state officials and accused other Mexican restaurant owners of criminal activity or being illegal. Documents allege that Umfress requested information on their liquor licenses and falsely reported that hearings were scheduled as part of an investigation.
In September, authorities turned to Google records for information on several email addresses linked to the suspicious messages. Initial findings from that investigation revealed that Umfress registered the accounts in question, per court documents. She reportedly posed as state officials at least twice in emails sent between June and August.
Missouri court records further reveal that Umfress was charged in connection with an arson case last year in Dunklin County.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Umfress on Sept. 18 in the forgery case. She was ordered jailed without bond.
