Missouri state legislator faces more charges

LIBERTY, Mo (AP) – A Missouri state legislator already named in a 20-count fraud indictment is now facing three more charges.

Federal prosecutors announced Friday that a grand jury issued the new charges this week against Rep. Tricia Derges, a Republican from Nixa.

Derges was indicted in February on fraud charges alleging she promoted a treatment she was selling at medical clinics as containing stem cells that could treat various diseases including COVID-19.

The new charges unveiled Friday during Derges’ arraignment allege she sought nearly $900,000 in federal CARES Act funding for COVID-19 services that were either not performed or were already reimbursed.