John J. Diehl Jr., a Republican who once held the influential position of Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on Monday, March 9, 2026, for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk also imposed a $50,000 fine on Diehl, 60, following his admission of guilt related to defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
"Although he legitimately obtained pandemic relief loans for his law practice, Diehl diverted those funds for personal use rather than the purposes Congress intended. Relief programs like these were created to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic — not to line someone’s pockets." — Chris Crocker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s St. Louis Division
Diehl, a St. Louis-area attorney, waived formal indictment in September 2025 and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He admitted to obtaining $379,900 from the SBA through an initial EIDL and a subsequent loan modification, both secured under false representations. The EIDL program was established by Congress to provide economic relief to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its stated purpose was to help businesses meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
The fraud scheme began on March 30, 2020, when Diehl applied for an EIDL on behalf of his law firm, the Diehl Law Group. Less than a month later, a $1,000 advance was deposited into the firm’s bank account. Prosecutors highlighted that Diehl quickly diverted some of these funds for personal use, including a $1,320.15 payment to a country club for personal dues and charges, as reported by First Alert 4.
On June 9, 2020, the remainder of the initial loan, totaling $93,900, was deposited into the Diehl Law Group's bank account. Diehl subsequently transferred a portion of these funds into his personal bank accounts, further demonstrating a pattern of using relief money for non-business purposes. The intent of the EIDL program was to support business operations, not to supplement personal finances.
The fraudulent activity escalated in March 2022 when Diehl requested a loan modification. In his request, Diehl falsely claimed that the additional funds would be utilized "to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster." Based on these representations, additional loan payments totaling $285,000 were wired into the Diehl Law Group's bank account. Of this substantial sum, Diehl transferred $150,000 into his personal retirement plan, an action directly contrary to the relief program's objectives.
Further investigations by prosecutors, detailed by The Missouri Independent, revealed that Diehl used the fraudulently obtained money for a wide array of personal expenses. These included payments on luxury vehicles such as a Tesla, an Audi, and a Jeep. Funds were also directed towards pool maintenance, additional country club dues, mortgage bills, and college tuition for a family member. Approximately $200,000 of the illegally acquired funds was funneled into his law firm’s defined benefit plan, of which Diehl was the sole participant, effectively enriching himself through a program designed for struggling businesses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith emphasized Diehl's culpability during court proceedings, stating, “This defendant’s law practice didn’t suffer at all during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Goldsmith further contended that Diehl "saw a way to make some easy and cheap money." In a court filing, Goldsmith underscored Diehl’s privileged position: “Through his education and public office, (Diehl) had every privilege and opportunity, and to put it bluntly, he knew better than to engage in the charged fraud scheme.” Prosecutors argued against leniency, noting that Diehl's repayment of the funds should not be considered an "extraordinary" basis for a reduced sentence, characterizing him as a "man of great and substantial means."
Chris Crocker, special agent in charge of the FBI’s St. Louis Division, highlighted the broader implications of Diehl's actions. USA Today quoted Crocker stating, “Although he legitimately obtained pandemic relief loans for his law practice, Diehl diverted those funds for personal use rather than the purposes Congress intended. Relief programs like these were created to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic — not to line someone’s pockets.”
Diehl's political career included serving in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009 until his resignation as Speaker in 2015. His resignation followed reports by The Kansas City Star that he had been caught sending sexually explicit texts to an intern. At the time, Diehl acknowledged a “serious error in judgment” in a written statement, accepting full responsibility and expressing regret. Following his departure from public office, Diehl continued his legal practice with the Diehl Law Group. In 2023, the Missouri Ethics Commission fined Diehl $47,000 for alleged misuse of campaign funds, indicating a prior history of financial impropriety in connection with his public service.
Diehl will be allowed to report to federal prison at a later date, the specific timing of which was not immediately disclosed. The sentence marks a significant consequence for a former high-ranking state official who exploited a federal program designed to aid businesses during a national crisis.
