By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

GALENA, Kan. — A federal prosecutor in the case against Sunflower Supply Co. owner Gary Hall sees potential problems with Hall paying the legal fees of his co-defendants and with some defendants sharing a single defense attorney.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst has filed a motion in U.S. District Court, Wichita, to determine whether a conflict of interest exists.

In another motion, Furst seeks more time to prepare for trial because of the complexity of the case. A tentative trial date of Jan. 13 had been set.

A 43-count federal indictment against Hall and seven others associated with his Galena wholesale tobacco business was filed last month. The indictment alleges the defendants defrauded the state of Oklahoma and American Indian tribes in the state of $25 million in tax revenue. Charges include multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Hall, 66, of rural Joplin, Mo., is listed in the indictment as president and owner of Sunflower who also exercised control over Discount Tobacco Warehouse, 402 Grand Ave., Joplin; National Tobacco Distributors; Rebel Industries Inc.; Halls Collection Inc.; Shawnee Tobacco Smoke Shop in Harrah, Okla.; and Sunflower Aircraft Inc.

Other defendants are:

Thomas Anthony Grantham, 50, of Joplin, who manages operations at Sunflower and Rebel for Hall.

Keith Dion Noe, 42, of Joplin, accountant for Sunflower, Discount Tobacco Warehouse, Rebel Industries and Shawnee Tobacco Smoke Shop.

Justin Boyes, 32, of Galena, who previously worked for Hall at Sunflower and most recently worked for him at Discount Tobacco Warehouse.

Danny Ray Davis, 62, of Galena, who worked for Hall at Sunflower and most recently worked for him at Rebel.

Jeremy Wayne Hooker, 33, of Salina, Okla., who operates Pipestone Smoke Shop in Vinita, Okla.

Justice Michael Berry, 36, of Joplin, worked for Hall as an accountant.

James William Coble, 35, of Galena, who worked for Hall at Sunflower and most recently worked for him at Rebel.