Judge rules Jackson man should stand trial in kickback case

Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp has decided there's enough evidence in a felony stealing case for a Jackson man to stand trial on allegations he embezzled more than $500,000 from a kickback scheme that investigators allege targeted his former employer.

Kamp bound the case over to division two of the court March 14, four days after hearing testimony at Jason Mitchell's preliminary hearing.

At the hearing Mitchell's attorney, Stephen Wilson, and Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle debated whether the defendant should have been criminally charged.

Kamp delayed making a decision to review Missouri statutes related to the facts of the case.

Mitchell is accused of receiving kickbacks from a Tennessee-based textile company owned by Rajiv Toprani into a bank account created under the business name Global Census. The money, authorities allege, should have gone to the DeWitt Company. Authorities accuse Mitchell of fixing prices with Toprani and keeping some of the money from DeWitt's purchases of Toprani's products.

Toprani is also charged with felony stealing.

Mitchell had his first appearance before Circuit Judge William L. Syler Monday, and is still free on bond. He's still required by the court to use a portable alcohol monitoring device, not possess firearms and not leave Missouri.

Toprani has a preliminary hearing set for April 13.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

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