Missouri Rep. John L. Bowman Sr. of Northwoods pleaded guilty today in federal court to a charge relating to a credit card scam and agreed to resign his office. He was indicted last year for bank fraud and unauthorized use of an access device for allegedly lying on a credit application and paying a Bank of America vice president a kickback to obtain a credit card,.
Bowman agreed to plead guilty to a lesser, misdemeanor charge of paying Robert Conner $1,000 to influence the approval of the credit application.
He admitted bribing Conner and admitted that there was false information on his credit card application. He owes more than $22,000 in restitution to the Bank of America, prosecutors said.
Bowman faces up to one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. Officials said he will likely get probation as part of the deal. He also agreed to resign effective Jan. 31 and not run for office while on probation. Bowman’s sentencing is April 3.
Bowman was among dozens of local residents who received credit cards or lines of credit through former Bank of America vice-president Robert Conner in a scheme said to have cost the bank $1.5 million.
He was the last to face trial in the case – all others pleaded guilty.
In the only trial, a jury found Conner guilty last month of all 36 charges against him – 17 counts of bank fraud and 19 counts of unauthorized use of an access device. He is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 20.
Prosecutors’ case was weakened when U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey ruled that each of the remaining defendants would have to be tried separately.