Northern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
New prosecutor joins U.S. Attorney’s Office in ClarksburgRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — The U.S. Attorney’s Office has added a new prosecutor to its Clarksburg location.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Will Rhee has joined his office and will handle a diverse criminal caseload, to include violent crime and white-collar cases. Rhee was a professor at the West Virginia University College of Law for the past 15 years and prior to that, served as a Trial Attorney with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Rhee is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, having received numerous awards to include the Army Commendation Medal.
“I am thrilled to add Will Rhee to our team,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “His deep knowledge of the law, his prior experience with the Department of Justice, and his commitment to public service make him the perfect fit to assist with the busy criminal docket in Clarksburg and elsewhere.”
Rhee earned his undergraduate degrees from Yale and his law degree from Northwestern.
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Taylor County woman sentenced to 12 years for federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kayla Marie Cline, age 32, of Flemington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 148 months for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cline was operating a methamphetamine distribution operation from a home in Taylor County. Cline worked with others to travel to and from the Morgantown area to meet her supplier or to conduct drug sales. Investigators connected more than three pounds of methamphetamine to Cline.
The case was investigated by the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
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Ohio man admits to his role in drug trafficking organization in WheelingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Raymond Michael Hardmon, also known as “Dro,” 38, of Bellaire, Ohio, has admitted to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Hardmon pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, and cocaine. According to court documents, Hardmon was involved in the trafficking of controlled substances in the Wheeling area. Investigators connected Hardmon to more than 400 grams of cocaine.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
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Hampshire County man sentenced to 9 years for methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Timmey Leo Lambert, Sr., age 59, of Augusta, West Virginia, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for drug trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Timmey Lambert, Sr., was selling methamphetamine in Hampshire County. Investigators searched Lambert’s home and found methamphetamine, 16 firearms, $4100 in counterfeit money, and a bulletproof vest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funding initiative, investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Maryland man sentenced for theft, trafficking of firearmsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Lee Tyndall, Jr., 45, of Brooklyn Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 60 months for a firearms trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tyndall stole 13 firearms from licensed firearms dealers in Mineral County. Tyndall pawned several of the stolen firearms and sold one to a confidential informant.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Virginia man admits to selling ghost guns in the Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon Michael Reckert, 29, of Purcellville, Virginia, has admitted to possessing and selling privately-manufactured and unregistered firearms.
According to court documents, Reckert was advertising and selling the firearms on social media. Reckert was found with a privately manufactured short-barreled AR-15 style rifle that wasn’t registered.
As a part of the plea agreement, Reckert will forfeit dozens of firearms, firearms parts, rounds of ammunition, and tools.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; and the Loudon County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Three sentenced for domestic violence-related chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three men were sentenced on federal charges related to domestic violence.
Brian Michael Lewis, age 42, of Levels, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court documents and statements made in court, Hampshire County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a domestic dispute at Lewis’s home. During a search of the home, officers found 8 firearms along with ammunition. Lewis cannot possess guns due to prior drug and larceny charges in Virginia.
Derik Wayne Bowers, age 44, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to 41 months for stalking. According to court documents, Bowers harassed and intimidated his ex-girlfriend in Berkeley County and used social media to attempt to undermine her online business. Despite being subject to a protective order, Bowers placed more than 800 phone calls to her during a 48-hour period and sent nearly 2,000 text messages in six months.
Rodney Allen Mayhew, age 43, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 24 months for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, while responding to a domestic violence call, officers recovered two pistols and a rifle in Mayhew’s bedroom. Mayhew is prohibited from possessing guns due to a prior conviction.
The Lewis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI investigated the Bowers case. The Mayhew case was also investigated by the ATF, along with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the Bowers case on behalf of the government.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the Mayhew and Lewis cases.
U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Four sentenced for drug trafficking in Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four people have been sentenced for drug trafficking crimes in the Northern District of West Virginia.
- Gary Weldon, also known as “Fatboy,” age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 100 months for two heroin charges.
- James Davis Graham, also known as “JD Graham,” age 41, of Augusta, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months for selling heroin and fentanyl.
- Jeanette L. Henkel, age 32, of Augusta, West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months for charges of selling heroin and fentanyl.
- Jonathan Ross Blankenbaker, age 32, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years of probation for eutylone trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Weldon, Graham, and Henkel were working with others to transport heroin and fentanyl from Baltimore to Hampshire County, West Virginia. Court documents show that in addition to the sale of drugs, firearms were trafficked and traded for drugs. The investigation yielded several firearms, ammunition, and thousands of dollars in cash.
In a separate case, Blankenbaker sold eutylone in Berkeley County and elsewhere. According to court documents and statements made in court, investigators searched a motel room in Martinsburg that was being used to sell eutylone and methamphetamine and found both drugs and more than $12,500 in cash.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the Weldon, Graham, and Henkel investigation. The Task Force consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. The Hampshire County Prosecutor’s Office assisted.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated the Blankenbaker matter. The Task Force consists of the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; the Ranson Police Department; and the Charles Town Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Two Charged with Stealing Identities, Cash from Credit Union CustomersRead the Press Release
NEW MARTINSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been indicted for stealing the identities of West Virginians and withdrawing cash from their credit union accounts.
Benjamin Britford, 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Brandon Watkins, 29, of Douglasville, Georgia have been charged with making unauthorized transactions from accounts at Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union in New Martinsville. In July and August of 2023, Britford and Watkins obtained the personal identifying information and account numbers for numerous credit union customers and then withdrew cash from those accounts. The defendants withdrew more than $10,000 in cash from accounts in West Virginia and withdrew additional funds from accounts of Bayer customers in South Carolina during the same time period.
Britford and Watkins are each charged with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank larceny. Watkins faces an additional charge of aggravated identity theft.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer T. Conklin is prosecuting the case.
The FBI investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Virginia Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Ten-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Manassas, Virginia man was indicted today for engaging in sexual activity with a ten-year-old girl he met on social media.
According to court documents, Daniel Eliazar Ramos Rosa, 23, exchanged over 1,000 messages, photos, and videos with the victim via Snapchat, pressuring her for photos and sexual favors. Rosa then traveled to the victim’s Harpers Ferry home, climbed into her bedroom window, and engaged in sexual activity with her. Rosa filmed himself having sex with the girl before fleeing after her father entered the room, leaving behind shoes, clothing, and sex toys.
“This case is a grim reminder of how sexual predators utilize social media to gain access to children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “I applaud the work of the FBI, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the federal prosecutors in my office for bringing Mr. Rosa to justice.”
Rosa is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor for sex, travel with intent to engage in sex with a minor, and production of child pornography.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting this case.
The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
West Virginia Man Sentenced for Obstructing Tree of Life TrialRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A West Virginia man was sentenced to prison today for his attempt to intimidate and influence jurors and witnesses in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life trial.
Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, of Follansbee, was sentenced to 78 months in prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lloyd threatened jurors and witnesses involved in the recent trial for the Tree of Life shooter, Robert Bowers. Throughout the proceedings, Lloyd made threatening social media posts and website comments, and sent intimidating emails. Lloyd, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, admitted that he engaged in this conduct because of the actual or perceived ties to the Jewish community of the witnesses and the victims of Bowers.
On September 19, 2023, Lloyd entered a guilty plea to obstruction of the due administration of justice.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph Bernard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Washington man sentenced to 35 years after traveling across country to have sex with childRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Marysville, Washington man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for traveling to West Virginia to have sex with a child.
Nathaniel James Davis, age 34, was sentenced today by Chief Judge Thomas Kleeh after having previously pled guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in sexual act with a minor, and commission of a felony offense involving a minor by a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis, a registered sex offender, began an online relationship with a 13-year-old from Barbour County. Davis then traveled from Washington state to West Virginia to meet with the child for sex but was intercepted by law enforcement.
Davis was required to register as a sex offender because of his conviction for communication with a minor for sexual contact and child pornography charges in Whatcom County Superior Court in Bellingham, Washington in 2016.
In a separate case, Maurice Monroe Cato, III, age 49, of Gerrardstown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years for possession of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, Cato was posting and sharing child pornography. A search of Cato’s phone revealed more than 600 images along with videos of minors, including children under the age of five. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the hearing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the Davis case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the Cato case.
The West Virginia State Police investigated both cases.
Harrison County man sentenced to 10 years for fentanyl and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Edward Maxwell, age 44, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for fentanyl trafficking and unlawful firearm possession.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Maxwell was selling fentanyl from his home. Investigators searched the property and found fentanyl and a pistol. Maxwell has prior felony convictions which prevents him from having firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Clarksburg man sentenced to 15 years for selling heroin and fentanyl stampsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia, man was sentenced today to 188 months in prison for selling thousands of heroin and fentanyl stamps in Harrison County.
James Curtis Jones, also known as “Donk,” 26, pled guilty in August 2022 to a distribution charge near a protected location, Emmanuel Christian School in Clarksburg. Jones was supplying other dealers in the Clarksburg area with heroin and fentanyl and investigators determined that Jones was responsible for the distribution of more than one kilogram of the mixture. During a search of Jones’s home, officers found additional heroin, fentanyl, and approximately $10,000 in cash.
Jones has a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, as well as a felony conviction from Beaver County, Pennsylvania for use of communications device to engage in heroin trafficking.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Federal inmate convicted in death of inmateRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephen C. Crawford, age 44, a federal inmate formerly housed at United States Penitentiary Hazleton, was found guilty of the death of a fellow inmate.
After a five-day trial, a jury found Crawford guilty of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily harm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford used a prison-made weapon to stab another inmate multiple times. The inmate later died of his injuries.
Crawford faces up to 15 more years in federal prison for the manslaughter charge and faces up to 10 years for each of the assault charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Flower and Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wheeling woman sentenced to five years for cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Rebecca Mae Blake, age 41, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for cocaine distribution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Blake sold crack cocaine from her home on Fulton Street in Wheeling. Blake pled guilty to the charge earlier this year in connection to a larger drug operation in Ohio County led by Rocco Pandoli, also of Wheeling.
Blake has multiple prior felony drug convictions, to include a conviction in federal court for cocaine distribution in 2005, and three convictions in Ohio County (W.Va.) Circuit Court in 2017, also for cocaine distribution.
Pandoli was convicted earlier this year and sentenced to 51 months in prison.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Wheeling man sentenced for federal fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –Rashun Rafael Suncar, also known as “Blackie,” age 37, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 92 months for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Suncar sold pills counterfeit pills containing fentanyl near the Elks Playground in East Wheeling. Investigators searched Suncar’s residence and found additional drugs along with a 9mm Taurus pistol.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Marion County tax preparer charged with filing false tax returnsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jack Lee Oliver, age 55, of Rivesville, West Virginia, has been charged with filing false tax returns.
Oliver was indicted on 32 counts involving the preparation and filing of false tax returns. According to court documents, Oliver is the owner of an insurance sales and tax return preparation business, Insurance Depot, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Oliver is accused of making false claims on his personal tax returns and tax filings for customers, resulting in overpayments of more than $800,000 from the Internal Revenue Service.
Oliver is facing up to three years in federal prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Martinsburg man sentenced to prison for falsifying passportRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Bobby Allen Stark, age 52, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months in federal prison for falsifying his passport.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stark was charged with sexual assault of a child in El Paso County, Colorado in April 2022 and ordered to surrender his passport. Upon returning to his home in Martinsburg, Stark applied for a new passport, claiming on the application form that he had lost the old one. He was able to obtain a new passport and shortly before his scheduled plea hearing in the Colorado case, Stark flew to Guyana, a country on South America’s North Atlantic coast, where he was later apprehended.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Kane and Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Maryland man sentenced for fentanyl traffickingRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Warren Thomas Gray, also known as “Stix,” age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to24 months for his role in an Eastern Panhandle fentanyl trafficking operation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gray was one of the ringleaders of the fentanyl trafficking operation, supplying fentanyl from Baltimore to Shanklin and others to distribute in Hampshire, Mineral, and Morgan Counties. During the investigation, officers seized several firearms, ammunition, and U.S. currency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation. The Task Force consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. The Hampshire County Prosecutor’s Office assisted.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
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Twenty-six charged in Eastern Panhandle drug trafficking indictmentRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Twenty-six people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, according to United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.
Individuals from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia were charged with drug trafficking in an indictment unsealed today. According to court documents, Dorian Scott Burks, also known as “Cash,” age 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, supplied methamphetamine to Andrew Ross Hose, age 54, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Hose and others redistributed methamphetamine, as well as with fentanyl and cocaine, in Hampshire, Morgan, and Berkeley Counties. During the investigation, officers seized drugs, firearms, and United States currency.
“The supply of drugs from Pittsburgh to the Eastern Panhandle has been disrupted thanks to the excellent work of the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Law enforcement will continue to use every tool available to pursue and to prosecute out-of-town dealers who operate for profit in West Virginia.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Berkeley County and Hampshire County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices assisted.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
List of defendants: www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/case-document/list-defendants-us-v-hose-et-al
Bridgeport man sentenced for taking nearly $650,000 in COVID Relief fundsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Nolte, 52, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nolte fraudulently applied for and received CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $645,717. To obtain these loans, Nolte falsely represented an interest in business or created the business and submitted fraudulent documents to obtain the loans. The loans were for PGO Veterans Services, PG Health, RJS Catering and Dental Care Plus. Nolte also obtained forgiveness from the Small Business Administration for these loans, falsely certifying that he used the money for payroll expenses. Nolte instead spent the money on personal expenses.
Nolte was also ordered to pay $684,154.44 to the Small Business Administration which includes the initial loan amounts, interest on the loans prior to forgiveness, and processing fees.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Anyone aware of COVID fraud can report it via email to [email protected], by telephone to 304-234-0100, or via regular mail to the U.S. Attorney, P.O. Box 591, Wheeling, WV 26003, Attn: COVID Fraud Unit.
Harrison County man sentenced for federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Neal Boram, II, age 38, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 80 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Boram, a convicted felon, persuaded a female to purchase him a 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in Morgantown. Investigators searched Boram’s hotel room and found the 9mm pistol’s box, another firearm, ammunition, and controlled substances. Further investigation revealed that Boram sold the 9mm, along with two other firearms, to a convicted felon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Berkeley County man sentenced for child pornography offenseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Patrick Allen Boyd, age 47, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Boyd uploaded an image of child pornography, generating a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A search of Boyd’s home and devices yielded nearly 200 child pornography images involving prepubescent and pubescent males.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Taylor County man sentenced to 10 years for methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Jack Getz, age 36, of Grafton, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Getz was working with others to sell methamphetamine in Taylor and Monongalia Counties. Getz’s home, vehicle, and a storage unit were searched during the investigation. Officers found more than two pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded pistol, drug paraphernalia, and multiple cell phones.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Parsons to lead civil rights enforcement in Northern West VirginiaRead the Press Release
Pictured L-R: U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Parsons; U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, Northern District of West Virginia.WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Wheeling native Jeffrey Parsons has been tabbed to lead civil rights enforcement efforts in Northern West Virginia.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced today that Parsons has been hired to prosecute hate crimes, disability and housing rights violations, and the enforcement of laws that prohibit discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.
“Jeff is a tremendous addition to our team,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “He has a strong desire to serve the public, to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and to defend the rights of those in need.”
Parsons comes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the private sector, where he handled consumer protection, employment, and complex litigation matters. Prior to that, he served for thirteen years as the career law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge John Preston Bailey. He has served on the board of Appalachian Outreach, Inc., which aids poverty and disaster-stricken residents of West Virginia, and as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for children in the legal system.
Parsons received both his undergraduate and law degrees from West Virginia University.
Upshur County man charged with interstate threats and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Bobby Cobb, age 53, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, has been charged with interstate threats and firearms charges.
Cobb was indicted today on four counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Cobb allegedly sent threatening emails and text messages to his victim over several weeks. The communications threatened to injure and kill the victim, her family members, and friends. Officers conducted a search warrant on Cobb’s home and found a shotgun. Cobb has a previous conviction of domestic violence, prohibiting him from having firearms.
Cobb is facing up to 5 years for each of the threat counts and faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Utt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorneys Thompson and Ihlenfeld Join with FBI and American Jewish Committee Leaders for Antisemitism TrainingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorneys Will Thompson and William Ihlenfeld joined with leaders from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Pittsburgh Division and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for training yesterday in response to rising antisemitism.
Charleston and Wheeling synagogues co-hosted the joint training session, presented by AJC and part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate (UAH) Community Outreach Program.
Thompson, Ihlenfeld and other speakers noted that planning for this training had begun well before the Hamas terror attacks and resulting conflict.
“This event was essential well before October 7, and is certainly essential now,” Thompson said. “Whether it is anti-Jewish hate, or anti-Muslim hate, or any other form of hate, we must and we will stand against all of it.”
“Hate-fueled crimes were a problem prior to October 7, and have only gotten worse since that day,” Ihlenfeld said. “This event provided a great opportunity to share information about the nature of the threat and the resources that the Justice Department brings to bear.”
The training aimed to enhance the understanding of the problem, identify effective responses to hate incidents, and empower people to speak out.
“This training was filled with invaluable information for the community,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “With antisemitism and hate crimes on the rise, these are serious crimes that not only affect one person, but an entire population and community. The public plays an important role in these cases. They are our eyes and ears in the communities we serve. We are constantly working to address these threats locally while focusing on building a relationship of trust and maintaining open dialogue so the community knows they can come to us with something suspicious or threatening.”
The training featured a message of perseverance and strength from Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the target of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history. Myers spoke of the 2018 terrorist attack and its continuing impact as well as the overwhelming response from an already supportive community.
“What an incredible message that was and continues to be to the rest of the world, that when people care deeply about each other, so much is possible,” Myers said. “I am someone still with hope that despite the horrors I witnessed that day, that we are able to find ways to be together, that we can rebuild community.”
The training included an overview of the trial and conviction of the Tree of Life assailant. It also included the subsequent guilty plea in the Northern District of West Virginia from a self-proclaimed white supremacist who targeted jurors and witnesses, including first responders, through threatening social media posts, website comments, and emails during the trial.
AJC leaders provided examples of antisemitism and how they can invoke ancient and medieval stereotypes, dehumanizing language and other falsehoods. They also cited recent polling of U.S. adults that found that the overwhelming majority, 91 percent, identified antisemitism as a problem for everyone that affects society as a whole.
“Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem. Period,” said AJC Washington Regional Director Alan Ronkin. “It is a societal problem. And when people recognize that, we can be a lot more effective in standing up to anti-Jewish hate.”
Monongalia County man charged for child pornography offensesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Harp, age 38, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with possession and receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, Harp allegedly possessed and received child pornographic images online. Some of the images involved children under the age of 12.
Harp is facing up to 20 years for the possession of child pornography charge and faces at least five years and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of three counts of receipt of child pornography. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hardy County men sentenced for federal drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Moorefield, West Virginia, men were sentenced today for methamphetamine trafficking.
Steven Ray Davy, Jr., age 37, was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison for 10 counts involving methamphetamine trafficking and firearms. Eric Wayne Baker, age 41, was sentenced to 52 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davy and Baker were working with others to sell methamphetamine in Hardy County. A search warrant at Davy’s home uncovered methamphetamine, pills containing fentanyl, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, several firearms, and a video surveillance system. During a traffic stop, officers found methamphetamine inside Baker’s vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Ohio man sentenced to 14 years for solicitation of child pornographyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – An Ohio man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for solicitation of child pornography.
Steven Wolford, age 26, of Cadiz, Ohio, was ordered to serve 168 months in federal prison after admitting to enticing and receiving sexually explicit images from a 9-year-old girl in Wetzel County, West Virginia. Wolford communicated with the victim through Facebook Messenger and officers discovered child pornography on two cellular phones that were seized from him during the execution of a search warrant.
“Thanks to the excellent work of law enforcement, Mr. Wolford won’t be able to victimize anyone for the next fourteen years,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Predators like Wolford walk among us, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to do everything in its power to protect children in our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department and the Cadiz Police Department.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Harrison County man sentenced 15 years for drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jesse James Wilson, age 40, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for methamphetamine and firearms charges.
Wilson pled guilty in March 2023 to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of firearm during in furtherance of drug trafficking. This week, he was ordered to serve a 188-month sentence. According to court documents and statements made in court, Wilson was selling methamphetamine in Harrison County and a search of his home yielded drugs, firearms, and $9,000 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, both HIDTA-funded initiatives; the West Virginia State Police, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department; and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Wheeling man sentenced to 15 years for cocaine distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia man was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for the distribution of cocaine.
Antonio Cunningham, age 46, was ordered to serve 188 months in prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, Cunningham sold cocaine to a confidential informant on multiple occasions earlier this year at his residence on South Broadway Street in Wheeling. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant at his home and recovered cocaine along with a loaded Taurus model G2C pistol. Cunningham has two prior felony drug convictions and was determined to be a career offender under the guidelines set forth by the United States Sentencing Commission.
“Repeat drug offenders like Mr. Cunningham won’t receive any breaks in the federal criminal justice system,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “I’m pleased that the residents of Wheeling Island won’t have to worry about him for a long, long time.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Taskforce, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Harrison County man sentenced to 10 years on federal gun chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Edward America, III, age 46, of Salem, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, America fired shots at law enforcement officers who were attempting to execute a search warrant at his home in May of 2022. America fled the scene but was later apprehended. Officers found eleven firearms, including an assault-style rifle in the area near where America fired shots at law enforcement, along with two silencers and assorted ammunition. America is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction in state court in Doddridge County, West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, West Virginia State Police, Doddridge County Sheriff’s Office, and Salem Police Department.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Virginia man sentenced to more than 12 years for methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Virginia man has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking.
Jason Knapp Downey, age 39, of Covington, Virginia, was sentenced to 154 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Downey obtained the illegal substance from Cleveland, Ohio and brought it to Weirton, West Virginia to be distributed. Officers executed a search warrant on Downey’s residence and retrieved two digital scales, a large amount of pure methamphetamine, United States currency, and ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force investigated the case.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.Two sentenced for drug trafficking in the Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking operation in Hampshire and Mineral Counties.
Dylan Carl Keckler, age 30, of Augusta, West Virginia, was sentenced today to six years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Keckler sold fentanyl with a purple hue on several occasions. During a search warrant at Keckler ‘s home, officers found fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.
Lisa Gail Crouse, age 42, of Cross Junction, Virginia, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Crouse was one of the distributors in the operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, led the investigation. The Task Force consists of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the West Virginia State Police, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardy County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keyser Police Department. The Hampshire County Prosecutor’s Office assisted.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Martinsburg woman sentenced to 40 years for trafficking a teenagerRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Destiny Rebecca Somersall, age 41, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 40 years in federal prison for sex trafficking of a child.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Somersall befriended a Florida man, 76-year-old John Balch, who requested photos and videos of a minor in exchange for money and gifts. Somersall sent sexual photographs and videos of the minor. One of the videos included a second victim. Somersall later agreed to drive the teen to a hotel in Maryland for sexual contact with Balch for money on multiple occasions. Investigators found at least 60 cash transactions between Balch and Somersall over a period of two years totaling $13,725.
Balch was indicted in the District of Maryland and pled guilty to related charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland assisted.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information on human trafficking, go to www.stophumantraffickingwv.org. To report a potential human trafficking crime, email [email protected] or call 304-234-0100.
Berkeley County woman sentenced for role in a multi-state drug enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kathryn Annette Batis, age 38, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Batis, also known as “Miss Kitty,” operated a drug house in Martinsburg for a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise.” The investigation uncovered nearly $65,000 in cash deposits over an 11-month period believed to be drug proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh heard testimony today that the enterprise sold drugs, committed acts of violence, laundered money, and committed fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but the operation had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and elsewhere.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorneys Thompson and Ihlenfeld Applaud Funding Announced During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As part of the monthlong observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, United States Attorneys Will Thompson and William Ihlenfeld are proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $340,618 to West Virginia to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
OVW awarded the $340,618 under the State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program for the 2023 fiscal year to enhance the coordination between courts, child protective services agencies, advocates, law enforcement, and community programs to encourage trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.
The awards consist of $108,034 for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) and $232,584 for the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV).
“For decades, both the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Foundation for Rape Information and Services have performed a critical role in providing education, awareness and expertise to their licensed programs, which serve all 55 West Virginia counties,” U.S. Attorney Thompson said. “I am pleased to announce that West Virginia has been awarded this funding from the Office on Violence Against Women.”
“Domestic violence offenders are some of the most dangerous individuals in our communities and thus a comprehensive, well-funded response is necessary,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “This funding will help us to combat the problem and support survivors throughout West Virginia.”
The role by WVFRIS and WVCADV also extends to statewide working groups charged with systemically addressing sexual and domestic violence in West Virginia. They work alongside law enforcement officers, prosecutors, courts, hospitals, colleges and universities, survivors and other advocates to create comprehensive strategies and prevention plans to support victims in their safety and healing.
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The West Virginia grants are among 496 announced nationwide this week that will reach Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Former university professor indicted for theft of grant fundsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Xinjian “Kevin” He, a former West Virginia University professor, has been indicted on two counts of federal program fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mr. He, age 41, was a professor in the University’s engineering department and allegedly embezzled federal grant funding, using the money to purchase clothing, furniture, home goods, and electronics for his personal use. The indictment was returned in November of 2020 but remained sealed because the defendant fled the country and wasn’t arrested until September 26, 2023, when he entered the United States from Canada and was apprehended in New York.
At a hearing today in Clarksburg federal court, a motion by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to detain Mr. He pending trial due to the risk of flight was granted.
The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the WVU Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over today’s proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld marks Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month today by highlighting the important work of two organizations helping to combat the problem in the region.
Ihlenfeld was joined by Jo Elliott, Executive Director of Community Alternatives to Violence, and Katie Spriggs, Executive Director of the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, to discuss their response to domestic violence.
Although his office has accelerated its efforts to address the issue through additional prosecutions, Ihlenfeld explained that enforcement is only part of the solution.
“We will continue to be aggressive in our prosecution of domestic violence offenders while at the same time collaborating with agencies that support victims and rehabilitate offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld.
Community Alternatives to Violence (CAV), a licensed Batterer's Intervention and Prevention Program, serves approximately 400 people in the Eastern Panhandle each year, offering classes for men and women to help build respectful relationships and prevent domestic violence.
“CAV is honored to be a part of this coordinated community response to domestic violence in our region. The role we play, intervention and prevention, provides those who use violence with an opportunity to learn how to be nonviolent and respectful in their families, and in all their relationships,” said Elliott. “We challenge these individuals to examine their belief systems and uncover how those beliefs have led to patterns of behaviors that create harmful dynamics in their homes. We then help them create their own plan of accountability; this is their road map for moving intentionally and with integrity towards a life of respect and empathy.”
The Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC) in Martinsburg plays an equally critical role, offering services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
"The Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. I have been in the movement to end interpersonal violence movement for over a decade, and the only response that I have ever seen functionally work to address these issues is a collaborative approach and that is exactly what we are working to build in Martinsburg with this new initiative. Survivors get more efficient, client centered, and more culturally responsive services when the team that is providing those services trusts each other and works well together. We are excited to continue working with this team and making our community safer," said Spriggs.
Both CAV and EPEC are part of the recently formed Berkeley County Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative. Other participating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; the Martinsburg Police Department; and the West Virginia State Police.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or go to thehotline.org.
Morgantown man sentenced to 10 years for federal drug crimeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lloyd Vaughn, age 28, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Vaughn was working with several others to operate a drug trafficking organization from Detroit, Michigan, to Monongalia County. Investigators searched Vaughn’s storage unit in Morgantown and found more than a pound of methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Bridgeport man sentenced to more than 12 years for methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Austin Lodge, age 31, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers engaged in a high-speed chase with Lodge in Harrison County, which ended with a foot chase. Lodge discarded a backpack during the chase containing methamphetamine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Two sentenced for federal drug crimes in West VirginiaRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people were sentenced for drug trafficking charges in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Brandy Hanshaw, also known as Brandy Deberry, age 40, of Lumberport, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Hanshaw sold methamphetamine in Harrison County. The investigation connected at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine to Hanshaw.
In a separate case, Lewis Johnson, age 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson was one of 11 defendants charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched from Detroit to Monongalia County. Investigators conducted a search warrant of Johnson’s hotel room and vehicle in Morgantown and found fentanyl.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the Hanshaw case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the Johnson case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated the Hanshaw case. The Johnson case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Federal inmate convicted of assaulting correctional officerRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Dwight Foster, age 50, a federal inmate formerly housed at United States Penitentiary Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, was convicted of assaulting a correctional officer.
After a two-day trial, a jury found Foster guilty of assault of a correctional officer involving physical contact and possession of a weapon. According to court documents and statements made in court, Foster was found with a prison-made weapon during a random search. When a correctional officer attempted to seize the object from Foster and detain him, Foster struck the officer in the face and chest with his fist.
Foster faces up to 8 years in prison for the assault charge and up to 5 years for the weapon charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Flower and Christie Utt prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Eighteen indicted for drug trafficking in Northern PanhandleRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Eighteen individuals have been indicted for distributing drugs in the Northern Panhandle, including two Chicago men accused of operating a fentanyl trafficking organization in Weirton and Steubenville.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that a federal grand jury has returned a series of indictments alleging the sale of drugs in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel counties.
In the first indictment, Gerald Henry, also known as “Unc,” age 39, and Stephen Price, also known as “Sleepy,” age 38, both of Chicago, Illinois, are accused of leading a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in Hancock County. The others charged in the conspiracy are Jasmine McCullough, age 39, also of Chicago, Daniel Paul Truax, age 45, of Weirton, West Virginia, Paula Jean Truax, age 43, of Weirton, and William Dean Tredway, age 34, of Colliers, West Virginia.
The second indictment alleges a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Ohio County, led by Teo Marcero Coleman, also known as “Teddy,” age 43, of McMechen and including Marlow Hurd, also known as “Brah,” age 45, of Wheeling, and Terry L. Blair, Jr., also known as “Fool,” age 40, also of Wheeling.
A Wetzel County conspiracy is alleged in the third indictment, charging Nolan Eugene McCray, age 39, of Cedar Lane, Texas, with coordinating efforts to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. The others charged in the indictment are Regina Anne Shaw, age 54, of Pine Grove, West Virginia, Maranda Rose Richardson, age 35, of Burton, West Virginia, and Cody Norris, age 34, also of Burton.
The fourth indictment charges David Adam Stewart, age 41, and Ginny Lynn Richmond, age 42, both of Moundsville, West Virginia, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Marshall County.
The fifth indictment charges Joseph William Alfred, also known as “Chris,” age 49, of Moundsville, West Virginia, for the distribution of methamphetamine in Ohio County.
The sixth indictment charges Gerald Lee Young, age 56, of Weirton, West Virginia, with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in Hancock County.
The final indictment charges an individual with the distribution of fentanyl in Ohio County but it remains sealed until the person charged has been arrested.
“We are fortunate to have three outstanding drug task forces in the Northern Panhandle to respond to the threat posed by out-of-town traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Their efforts make our communities safer and make life uncomfortable for dealers who choose to operate here.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Nogay and Clayton Reid are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The cases were investigated by the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force, the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Marshall County Drug Task Force, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office.
Indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lewis County man sentenced for attempting to obstruct hate crime investigationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Troy Anthony Pertuset, 37, of Jane Lew, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for obstructing justice by tampering with a witness.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pertuset was arrested by the Weston Police Department and charged with a hate crime for allegedly shooting a paintball gun at an African American man and shouting racial slurs. While Pertuset was in custody, investigators say he called a witness and asked that the person take the blame for firing the gun.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod Douglas and Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Harpers Ferry man charged with theft of government property, illegal gun salesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Todd Matthew Raymond, age 47, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, has been charged with theft of government property and firearms charges.
According to court documents, Raymond was employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a facility that disposes of decommissioned service weapons and firearms and parts seized by the agency. Raymond allegedly stole firearms and firearms parts from the facility. He is accused of selling some of the stolen property.
Raymond is charged with theft of government property, engaging in the business without a license, possession of a stolen firearm, obliterated serial number, and possession of an unregistered firearm. He is facing up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the theft, stolen firearm, and unregistered firearms charges and up to 5 years for each of the business and obliterated serial number charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General; and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Barbour County man admits to federal firearms chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Ethan D. Delauder, age 31, of Philippi, West Virginia, has pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, officers conducted a traffic stop and found a sawed-off shotgun in Delauder’s vehicle. Delauder was convicted of domestic violence in Barbour County in 2018, making it illegal for him to have firearms.
Deluader is facing up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Northern Panhandle men indicted for sex offensesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Northern Panhandle men were indicted yesterday for federal sex offenses.
Harry Fred Wells, age 53, of Follansbee, West Virginia, was charged with enticement of a minor for sex using a computer, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Wells allegedly tried to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, sent obscene material to the minor, and had child pornography on his cell phone.
David Edward Evans, age 53, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Evans uploaded pornographic images of minors to Google Photos. Investigators then searched Evans’ phone and found more images and videos depicting a pre-pubescent minor less than 12 years old.
Carl Dennis Colvin, age 70, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Colvin had child pornography on his computer depicting children under the age of 12.
Caleb Dale Steiner, age 42, also of Wheeling, was indicted on a charge of failure to register. According to court documents, Steiner must register as a sex offender and traveled across state lines without updating his registration with his new address.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue all those who seek to harm children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, the individuals charged won’t be able to hurt anyone for a long time to come.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The West Virginia State Police investigated the Evans case. The Wheeling Police Department investigated the Colvin matter with assistance of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Wells and matter, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the Steiner case.
Indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.