Northern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Marion County man admits to drug chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Copen, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to methamphetamine distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Copen, age 42, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine” and three counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine in Proximity of a Protected Location.” Cope admitted to distributing methamphetamine in Marion County in October of 2017, March of 2018, and April of 2018.
The United States is also seeking forfeiture of $37,829 as proceeds derived directly or indirectly from the alleged crime.
Copen faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Three Rivers Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Virginia man sentenced for cigarette smuggling chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Udayappan Subramanian, of Haymarket, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months probation for unlawful cigarette smuggling, First Assistant United States Attorney Randy Bernard announced today.
Subramanian, age 41, pled guilty to one count of “Trafficking of Contraband Cigarettes” in June 2018. He transporting large quantities of contraband cigarettes across state lines for redistribution and sale. The cigarettes were acquired in Virginia, where the tax rate for cigarettes is one of the lowest in the nation, and sold in other states, including New York, which has one of the nation’s highest tax rates. The cigarettes were possessed and transported in West Virginia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Stein prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations, the Frederick County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Morgantown woman sentenced for heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lori Murphy, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 months incarceration for heroin trafficking, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Murphy, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1000 feet of Protected Location” in June 2018. Murphy admitted to distributing heroin near North Elementary School in April of 2017 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Jefferson County woman sentenced for heroin chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Amy Bowlin, of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 4 years probation for heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Bowlin, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Heroin” in July 2018. Bowlin admitted to selling heroin in July 2017 in Jefferson County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Illegal alien sentenced for reentry chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Juan Mendez-Patishtan, a Mexican national, was sentenced today to 15 months incarceration for a reentry of a removed alien charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Mendez-Patishtan, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Reentry of a Removed Alien” in June 2018. Mendez-Patishtan admitted to reentering the United States illegally after being removed six separate times from 2010 to 2016. Mendez-Patishtan was found in Harrison County in April 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Hampshire County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Grover Allen White, of Romney, West Virginia, was sentenced to 30 months incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
White, age 40, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm” in June 2018. White admitted to possessing a stolen .380 caliber pistol. The crime occurred in Hampshire County in June 2016.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.Detroit man sentenced for heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Charles Marquis Mitchell, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 46 months incarceration for distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Mitchell, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Heroin within 1,000 feet of a protected location” in April 2018. Mitchell admitted to distributing heroin near a property belonging to West Virginia University in September of 2017 in Monongalia County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Berkeley County man sentenced for heroin chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Ross Valentine, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 41 months incarceration for heroin distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Valentine, age 35, pled guilty one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin” in June 2018. Valentine admitted to possessing and distributing heroin in September 2017 in Berkeley County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Berkeley County man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Douglas Mills, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to probation for cocaine distribution, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Mills, also known as “D,” age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base” in July 2018. Mills admitted to selling cocaine in Berkeley County in August 2015.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Hancock County addiction center co-owner admits to illegally selling suboxoneRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eric Drake, of Weirton, West Virginia, has admitted to illegally distributing controlled substances, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Drake, age 48, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of a Controlled Substance.” Drake admitted to selling suboxone in Hancock County in May 2016.
Drake was co-owner of an addiction treatment center, Advance Healthcare, Inc., located at 3300 West Street in Weirton.
Drake faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Wagner and Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner Fraud Division; the WV Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; the Office of Ohio Attorney General Health Care Fraud; the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; the Hancock-Brook-Weirton Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; and the Weirton Police Department investigated.
These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep. This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Upshur County man sentenced for his role in a firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Glen Woods, of French Creek, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 27 months incarceration for his role in a stolen firearms conspiracy, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Woods, age 28, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Firearm – Aiding and Abetting” in April 2018. Woods admitted to having 21 stolen firearms with the intent to conceal, sell, and barter the firearms in October 2016.
Woods was also ordered to pay $52,843.91, to be paid jointly with two other defendants, in restitution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, the West Virginia State Police, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Buckhannon Police Department, and the Weston Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Justice Department’s Criminal Division creates Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force to focus on illegal opioid prescriptionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division today announced the formation of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force (ARPO Strike Force), a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (HCF Unit), the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for nine federal districts in five states, as well as law enforcement partners at the FBI, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The mission of the ARPO Strike Force is to identify and investigate health care fraud schemes in the Appalachian region and surrounding areas, and to effectively and efficiently prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids.
Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski was joined in the announcement by U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. for the Eastern District of Kentucky; U.S. Attorney Russell M. Coleman for the Western District of Kentucky; U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman for the Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Attorney William J. Powell for the Northern District of West Virginia; U.S. Attorney Michael B. Stuart for the Southern District of West Virginia; U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey for the Eastern District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney Donald Q. Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama; Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary L. Cantrell of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Assistant Administrator John J. Martin of the DEA Diversion Control Division.
“While the opioid epidemic continues to inflict untold pain and suffering on people across the country, the devastation in the Appalachian region and adjacent areas has been particularly staggering,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “It is all the more reprehensible when unscrupulous physicians and pharmacies contribute to the epidemic by illegally supplying dangerous prescription painkillers. Working with our partners in U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement, the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force will combat illegal prescription opioids and health care fraud by holding accountable corrupt medical professionals who seek to profit off the crisis of opioid addiction.”
“We have been resolute in our efforts to prosecute the so-called health care professionals who violate their professional oaths to satisfy their greed. The criminal conduct of certain physicians, pharmacists and other medical professionals not only results in significant fraud, but is every bit as bad or worse than the conduct by the common street level drug dealer. The new strike force will provide additional resources for us to weed out the criminal medical professionals and hold them accountable,” said Powell.
“The creation of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force will bring together critical resources from the FBI and our partners to fight health care fraud in this region and the growing opioid epidemic that faces the United States,” said FBI Assistant Director Johnson. “Healthcare fraud touches every corner of the United States, and through this strike force, the FBI will continue our tireless work to combat illegal opioid prescriptions and bring to justice those medical professionals who put their greed over the health and wellbeing of their patients.”
“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on Americans across the country, including the people of the Appalachian region,” said HHS-OIG Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Cantrell. “The Strike Force model is a proven mechanism to target illicit conduct and hold accountable criminals involved in illegal opioid prescription and distribution schemes. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to curb this damaging epidemic.”
“Our nation’s opioid crisis requires us to work with unprecedented urgency in attacking drug diversion at every level,” said DEA Assistant Administrator Martin. “These joint strike force efforts will save lives, while allowing us to better target and bring to justice those who facilitate addiction and profit at the expense of the weakest and most afflicted.”
Prior to this announcement, the HCF Unit operated Medicare Fraud Strike Force’s in 12 locations across the United States including Miami, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana; Tampa/Orlando, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas, along with a Corporate Strike Force located in Washington, D.C., and the Newark/Philadelphia Regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Forces represent a partnership between the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, HHS-OIG and the DEA.
The ARPO Strike Force will be made up of prosecutors and data analysts with the HCF Unit, prosecutors with the nine U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the region, and special agents with the FBI, HHS-OIG and DEA. The ARPO Strike Force will operate out of two hubs based in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, areas, supporting the nine districts that make up the ARPO Strike Force region. In addition, the APRO Strike Force will work closely with other various federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS Criminal Investigation, and State Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
The ARPO Strike Force will target criminal conduct associated with the improper prescription and distribution of prescription opioids and other dangerous narcotics throughout the Appalachian region and surrounding areas – focusing on criminal conduct by physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals. The ARPO Strike Force will also investigate and prosecute violations of health care fraud whenever such fraud is detected throughout the region.
In June, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar III noted the success of the Strike Force model while announcing the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action involving 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings. Of those charged, 162 defendants, including 76 doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. More information can be obtained at https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-june-28-2018.
In August, Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski announced the Newark/Philadelphia Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which focuses on health care fraud and illegal opioid prescriptions in the Newark/Philadelphia region.
The Strike Force operations are part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the prosecutors in the 12 Medicare Fraud Strike Force locations have charged over 4,000 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for over $14 billion. Since January 2017, the HCF Unit has charged over 85 defendants, including 33 doctors with the illegal prescription of opioids (nearly 30 million pills).
Jefferson County man sentenced for filing a false tax returnRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Alfredo Amaya Diaz, of Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years probation for filing a false tax return, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Diaz, age 43, pled guilty to one count of “Filing False Income Tax Return” in April 2018. Diaz admitted to filing a tax return for 2016 that understated his income by more than $178,000, resulting in an unpaid tax of more than $50,000. The crime took place in January 2017 in Jefferson County.
Diaz was also ordered to pay $66,344 in restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.Randolph County man indicted on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – An Elkins, West Virginia man was arraigned today on multiple drug charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Elkins on August 22, 2018, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Thomas Roger Atohi, also known as “Smoke,” age 28, was indicted on one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” and two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine in Proximity of a Protected Location.” Atohi is accused of selling methamphetamine, sometimes near Beverly Elementary School and Elkins Christian Academy, in Randolph County in August, September, and October 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Regional Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Clarksburg man guilty of his role in a methamphetamine distribution operationRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Rocky Douglas Idleman, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was found guilty today of methamphetamine distribution and firearms charges after a three-day trial, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Idleman, age 39, was found guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” two counts of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm,” and one count of “Carry a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.” Idleman committed the crimes from March 2016 to September 2017 in Upshur County and elsewhere.
“I want to thank the jury for their service, our law enforcement partners and our trial team for their hard work. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who exhibit violent conduct and distribute illegal drugs in our district. There is no place they can hide,” said Powell.
Idleman faces 15 years to life incarceration for the charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crime Task Force; the Greater Harrison Drug &Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office; the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; the Buckhannon Police Department; and the Weston Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Wetzel County woman sentenced for connection to a drug distribution operation in Wetzel and Tyler CountiesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Holly C. Jenkins, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 24 months incarceration for her role in methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin distribution that spanned multiple states, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Jenkins, age 55, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin” in August 2018. Jenkins admitted to distributing heroin in March 2018 in Wetzel County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
Jefferson County man admits to fentanyl distributionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Corey Robert Clark Ford, of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ford, age 29, pled guilty today to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.” Ford admitted to distributing fentanyl in Jefferson County in January 2017.
Ford faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Berkeley County man admits to illegal gun possessionRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Wade Rebish, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to having a machine gun, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Rebish, age 30, pled guilty today to one count of “Illegal Possession of Machine Gun.” Rebish admitted to having a 5.7X28 mm caliber machine gun in Berkeley County in March 2017.
Rebish faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Berkeley County residents arraigned on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Martinsburg, West Virginia, residents were arraigned today in federal court after being indicted on August 14, 2018 by a federal grand jury sitting in Martinsburg on drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ellis Reginald Fennell, also known as “Z,” age 30, and Samione Monay Jones, age 31, are each charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base ‘Crack’,” and two counts of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Cocaine Base ‘Crack’.” Fennell and Jones are accused of selling “crack” cocaine in May 2017 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Fennell and Jones each face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Lydia Lehman, also with the Berkeley County Prosecutor’s Office, is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney welcomes new Assistant U.S. AttorneysRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney Bill Powell is excited to announce the addition of three new attorneys to the Martinsburg office in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Kimberley D. Crockett, Jeffrey Finucane, and Timothy D. Helman were sworn in today by Chief District Judge Gina M. Groh in the Martinsburg Federal Courthouse. Each will be assisting in the criminal division.
“I appreciate the Attorney General’s allocation of additional resources for our district.
Pictured L-R: Jeffrey Finucane, Timothy Helman, Kimberley CrockettIt is the first time in years that we have been able to hire additional prosecutors, and I am confident that they have made our already great group of prosecutors that much better. They are each experienced lawyers who will need little or no time to immediately assist in prosecuting our growing case load,” said Powell.
Kimberley D. Crocket comes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office with both private practice and public service experience. She most recently practiced law from her law firm Crockett Law, located in Martinsburg. Kim earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from West Virginia University (WVU). She obtained her Master’s Degree in English literature and Women’s Studies from WVU, and then worked as an English professor at Delaware State University. Kim then decided to return to school and attended the WVU College of Law, where she was a DuBois Fellow. She previously served as an assistant prosecutor for both the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, prosecuting felony crimes of violence with an emphasis on crimes against children. While Kim worked for the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office she served a year-long position as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) working in Martinsburg.
Jeffrey Finucane comes to the Northern District of West Virginia from the Office of General Counsel at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland. Prior to that, Jeff was a prosecutor in Baltimore City. He has also been a member of the United States Army JAG Corps since 2008, serving in the Reserves since 2012. Jeff is a native of Washington, D.C. He attended law school at the University of California at Davis and undergraduate at Washington University, St. Louis.
Timothy D. Helman was hired as two-year term Assistant United States Attorney as a part of the opioid surge in the Northern District specifically to focus on prosecuting fentanyl and heroin cases. Tim is a 30-year resident of Martinsburg, WV, and a 2004 graduate of WVU College of Law. He has spent the past 11 years working in the Berkeley County and Jefferson County prosecuting attorneys’ offices where he prosecuted murder, robbery, public corruption, and other felony cases.
Fourteen indicted on drug distribution and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Fourteen West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia residents are facing multiple drug and firearms charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling on October 3, 2018, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
The 28-count indictment alleges a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Mineral, Hardy, Hampshire Counties, and elsewhere from August 2017 to June 2018, as well as multiple firearms offenses. Those named in the indictment are:
• Nathan E. Carpenter, age 28, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Michael Corey Alt, age 34, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Corey Bircher, age 25, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Tyler Allen Whitacre, age 25, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Michael Lee Gray, II, age 287, of Marshall, Virginia
• Brittany Baker, age 22, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Phillip Ryan Williams, age 24, of McCool, Maryland
• Levi Doman, age 31, of Keyser, West Virginia
• Joseph Nathaniel Hagan, 35, of Petersburg, West Virginia
• Gypsy Rene Winkler, 19, of Keyser, West Virginia
• Michael Dwayne Cosner, 39, of Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Bryan Keith Presgraves, II, 20, of Luray, Virginia
• Steve William Gray, age 38, of Luray, Virginia
• Chance Allen Good, age 25, of Stanley, VirginiaDuring the investigation, more than $14,000 was seized, along with four firearms, a set of brass knuckles, a money counter, a security system, a street bike, and a piece of property on Elk Garden Highway in Elk Garden, West Virginia.
“Every day, we see individuals who apparently still believe that they are above the law. They are not, and my office will relentlessly pursue and prosecute them. Firearms are often involved with these criminal activities, and our law enforcement partners and citizens are consequently at even greater risk. We will use all of our resources to prosecute those who continue to pose a danger to law enforcement and our communities,” said Powell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, The West Virginia State Police, and the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tyler County woman admits to drug distributionRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Desiree Morgan, of Paden City, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Morgan, age 23, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Morgan admitted selling methamphetamine in February 2017 in Tyler County.
Morgan faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., presided.
Tucker County man admits to methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Brooks Ketterman, of Hambleton, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ketterman, age 31, pled guilty today to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.” Ketterman admitted to possessing more than five grams of methamphetamine, also known as “Ice,” in Randolph County in September 2017.
Ketterman faces up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Elkins Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Randolph County woman admits to methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sara Payge Gibson, of Elkins, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Gibson, age 25, pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.” Gibson admitted to selling methamphetamine, also known ‘Ice,” in Randolph County in November 2016.
Gibson faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Randolph County residents indicted for drug distributionRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Three Elkins, West Virginia residents were indicted today by a federal grand jury on drug charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Jeffrey Lynn Woods, age 57, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine,” two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises – Aiding and Abetting,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” one count of “Possess a Firearm in Futherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl – Aiding and Abetting.”
Christine Kay Woods, age 57, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises – Aiding and Abetting,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl – Aiding and Abetting.”
Crystal Key Hensley, age 38, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute More than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Maintaining Drug-Involved Premises.”
The three are accused of distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine in Randolph County from the fall of 2016 6o July 2018. Jeffrey and Christine Woods are also accused of using a business called “Lost Treasures” in Elkins to distribute methamphetamine.
During the investigation, more than $3500 was seized, along with multiple firearms.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Elkins Police Department investigated.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Randolph County man admits to heroin distributionRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Mark Jay Courtney, of Montrose, West Virginia, has admitted to distributing heroin, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Courtney, age 39, pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Heroin.” Courtney admitted to selling heroin in Randolph County in January 2018.
Courtney faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Pleasants County man found guilty of firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – After a two-day trial, Willard Lee Moss, Jr., of Saint Marys, West Virginia, was found guilty by a jury of a firearms violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Moss, age 37, was found guilty of one count of “Domestic Violence Offender in Possession of a Firearm.” Moss, having previously been convicted of two separate domestic violence offenses in Pleasants County, possessed one handgun, three rifles, and two shotguns in his home in February 2018.
Moss faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Pleasants County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Two illegal aliens sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men in the United States illegally were sentenced today for drug charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Hsun Jung Chang, age 30, was sentenced to four months incarceration. Shougi Li, age 24, was sentenced to four months incarceration. Each pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute and Distribute Marijuana” in July 2018. The men admitted to possessing marijuana in Ohio County in May 2018.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., presided.
Marion County man admits to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Timothy Cobb, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to a child pornography charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Cobb, age 56, pled guilty today to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Cobb admitted to possessing child pornography in Marion County in September 2014.
Cobb faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Ohio County man admits to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Justin Giesey, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to possessing child pornography, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Giesey, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Giesey admitted to having child pornography depicting a minor under the age of 12 in June 2017 in Ohio County.
Giesey faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J., Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Monongalia County man sentenced for sex offender registry violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert W. Tucker, Jr., of Star City, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 34 months incarceration for a sex offender registration violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Tucker, age 43, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration” in June 2018. Tucker admitted to traveling from Monongalia County, West Virginia to South Carolina and North Carolina, without updating his registry, as required by law, in August 2016 and September 2017.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Pennsylvania man sentenced for drug chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Kevin J. Washington, Jr., of Glenolden, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 63 months incarceration for a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Washington, age 30, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone” in July 2018. Washington admitted to selling oxycodone in Ohio County in February 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp., Jr. presided.
Marion County man admits to methamphetamine distribution and a firearms violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William A. Six, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to selling crystal methamphetamine and having a firearm near a school, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Six, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm in a School Zone.” Six admitted to selling crystal methamphetamine, also known as “Ice,” in Marion County in September 2017. Six also admitted to having a 12-gauge shotgun, and a semi-automatic rifle on the grounds of Washington Irving Middle School in Harrison County in September 2017.
Six faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug charge and faces up to five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms in a school zone charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, and the Fairmont Police Department investigated.U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Harrison County man sentenced for role in heroin distribution operationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David W. Lipscomb, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to eight months of home confinement to be followed by 28 months of probation for his role in a heroin distribution operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Lipscomb, age 35, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Heroin” in May 2018. Lipscomb admitted to selling heroin in Harrison County on March 15, 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.Hancock County man admits to firearms violationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Shannon C. Thornton, of Weirton, West Virginia, has admitted to illegally possessing a firearm, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Thornton, age 36, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Thornton, having previously been convicted of felony “Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury” in North Carolina, admitted to possessing a .380 caliber pistol, 9mm caliber pistol, and a .45 caliber pistol in January 2018 in Hancock County.
Thornton faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., presided.
Mineral County man admits to a firearms chargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Thomas Edward Wright, of Keyser, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Wright, age 29, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm.” Wright admitted to possessing a stolen .22 caliber long rifle in February 2016 in Mineral County.
Wright faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Keyser Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
Harrison County man admits to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Smith, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a child pornography charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Smith, age 37, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Smith admitted to possessing images of a child under the age of 12 in March 2018 in Harrison County.
Smith faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Harrison County residents indicted on drug distribution and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Philip K. Finley and Nicoma L. Knight, both of Clarksburg, West Virginia, were indicted this week by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling on drug distribution and firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Finley, age 51, is charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine – Aiding and Abetting,” four counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine,” two counts of “Possession With the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” one count of “Possession With the Intent to Distribute Heroin,” one count of “Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.”
Knight, age 23, is charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.”
Finley and Knight are accused of distributing methamphetamine in Harrison County from March until September 2018.
Finley and Knight face 10 years to life incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The government is also seeking forfeiture of the following:
• $173,442 in cash;
• Smith & Wesson 5-shot revolver, model 60, .38 Special caliber;
• Taurus International MFG., INC. 5-shot revolver, model 650, .357 Magnum caliber;
• Beemiller, INC. semi-automatic pistol, model CF380, .380 ACP caliber;
• Savage Arms, INC. bolt-action rifle, model 93R17, .17 HMR caliber;
• Savage Arms, INC. bolt-action shotgun (“Stevens”), model 59A, .410 gauge;
• Stevens, J., Arms Company pump-action shotgun, model 620, 12-gauge;
• Union Firearms Company pump-action shotgun, model 24, 12-gauge;
• Harrington & Richardson, INC. break-open action shotgun, model 158, 12-gauge;
• Crescent Firearms Company break-open action shotgun (“Sears, Roebuck and Company”) model: Unknown, 16-gauge;
• Winchester break-open action shotgun, model 840, 12-gauge;
• Stevens, J., Arms Company break-open action shotgun (“Off-Hand”), model NO. 35, 12-gauge;
• Sturm, Ruger & Co. semi-automatic rifle, model Mini-Thirty, 7.62x39 caliber, with high capacity magazine;
• Cobray Industries single-shot pistol, model D, .45 caliber;
• Colt’s Manufacturing Company, LLC semi-automatic pistol, model Colt Automatic, .25 caliber;
• Taurus International MFG., INC. 6-shot revolver, model 669, .357 Magnum caliber;
• Lorcin Engineering Co., INC. semi-automatic pistol, model L-22, .22 caliber;
• Beretta semi-automatic pistol, model Px4 Storm, .40 S&W caliber;
• Nine (9) assorted .40 caliber pistol cartridges;
• Five (5) CBC –Brazilian Cartridge Company pistol cartridges;
• Nine (9) .357 caliber pistol cartridges;
• Five (5) Aguila .380 pistol cartridges
• Four (4) assorted .25 caliber pistol cartridges; and
• One-Hundred Sixty (160) assorted multi-caliber pieces of ammunition.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until prove
U.S. Attorney Announces Progress in Making our Communities Safer through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. We have seen a double-digit decrease in violent crime in Wheeling alone.
Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
“The first year of the revitalization of PSN is just the beginning. As we see strides in reducing violent crime in our communities, the work has only just started. It our mission to continue to build on our law enforcement partnerships and to keep the residents in our district safe. Our PSN Coordinating Assistant United States Attorney, Dave Perri, has done an excellent job,” said Powell.
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
Enforcement Actions
The Northern District of West Virginia has strong, reinvigorated partnerships with the task forces, sheriff’s offices, and police departments across the 33 counties in our district. As a collective force, law enforcement and our office have prosecuted more than 300 violent crime offenders since the PSN revitalization one year ago.
For example, Gregory Keith Clinton, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, was sentenced in August 2018 to 22 years incarceration for drug and firearm charges. After a three-day trial in April 2018, a jury found Clinton guilty of one count of “Armed Career Criminal Act,” and other drug charges. Read more here.
Also in August 2018, Emory Chiles, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced 30 years incarceration for drug and firearms charges. A jury found Chiles, age 43, guilty of one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” one count of “Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Offense,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in April 2018. Read more here.
These cases are just a few examples of PSN at work in the Northern District.
Improvements to Community Safety
The FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline. The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.
The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off. Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.
The Northern District of West Virginia is experiencing similar results in many communities. For example, the City of Wheeling, our target enforcement area, in partnership with the Wheeling Police Department, has seen a 12% decrease in violent crime from 2017 to 2018 during the same period. With PSN partnerships in our communities, the district is encouraged by this trend.
Community Partnerships
Reentry education and assistance is an important part of the PSN initiative and vital to ensuring communities are safer when those incarcerated return home. The Northern District of West Virginia is active in the community in its reentry efforts, providing reentry presentations and simulations to community groups across the district. The Reentry Simulation is now being used as an educational tool at all Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities within the district. Our office has provided the necessary simulation kits, training, and support for the simulations to be implemented as inmate-run programs. The office has also offered the same for the West Virginia Division of Corrections.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Four Florida residents sentenced for fraud charges involving gas station skimmersRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Florida residents were sentenced today to a combined 297 months incarceration for their involvement with a gas station skimming fraud scheme, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Meylan Montalvo Gomez, of Hialeah, Florida, age 27, was sentenced to 57 months incarceration. Gomez pled guilty to one count each of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count each of “Access Device Fraud-Use of Unauthorized Access Device” in June 2018.
Yosan Pons Sosa, of Miami, Florida, age 29, was sentenced to 46 months incarceration. Sosa pled guilty to one count each of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count each of “Access Device Fraud-Use of Unauthorized Access Device” in June 2018.Lazaro Serrano Diaz , of Miami, Florida, age 27, was sentenced to 57 months incarceration. Diaz pled guilty to one count each of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count each of “Access Device Fraud-Use of Unauthorized Access Device” in June 2018.
Naudi Reyes Fernandez, of Miami, Florida, age 37, was sentenced to 51 months incarceration. Fernandez pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud” and one count of “Access Device Fraud-Possession of Device-Making Equipment” in June 2018.
Each admitted to their roles in a conspiracy spanning four states that involved using skimming devices at gas pumps, using technology to upload the account information, and creating fraudulent cards with said accounts to make unauthorized transactions at different businesses in West Virginia and elsewhere.
The court calculated the intended loss as approximately $1,000,000 based upon the fact that when the defendants were arrested, they were found with a laptop containing over 2,000 different debit and credit card numbers.
The court applied a sentencing enhancement based upon the sophistication of the offense. This was based in part on the use of blue tooth capable skimming devices which they had placed inside gas pumps to remotely obtain the card numbers.
The judge also ordered each defendant to pay $33,750. The judge also ordered restitution in the amount of $61,844.56.
Forfeiture of the following was also ordered:
a. approximately thirty-three (33) gift cards containing an unknown value;
b. approximately $72,495.73 in United States Currency;
c. approximately $28,498.00 worth of Western Union money orders;
d. approximately $10,300.00 worth of MoneyGram money orders;
e. one magnetic stripe card reader-writer-encoder
f. two laptops
g. six cell phonesAssistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.Department of Justice announces more than $70 million to support school safety and $64 million to improve state criminal record systems - Includes $500,000 to the West Virginia Department of EducationRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell joined the Department of Justice today in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident, including $500,000 for the West Virginia Department of Education.
These grants are in addition to the funding to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), announced by Attorney General Sessions last week, to expand and update their curriculum to better support training programs. These grants combined will better protect students, teachers, faculty, and first responders across the United States. Additionally, the Department is awarding more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems, which will help law enforcement and increase the effectiveness of background checks.
“President Trump and his administration will ensure the safety of every American school," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. "Earlier this year he signed into law the STOP School Violence Act, which provides grant funding to develop anonymous school threat reporting systems, to implement school building security measures, and to train students, school personnel, and law enforcement on how to prevent school violence. Today I am announcing $70 million in these grants to hundreds of cities and states across America. These grants will go a long way toward giving young people and their families both safety and peace of mind.”
“Children are our most valuable resource. This funding couldn’t go to a more worthy cause. I look forward to seeing our schools improve in security and mental health services in the coming year, thanks, in part, to this funding,” said Powell.
The Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) together are making more than 220 awards to jurisdictions across the country to help make schools more secure. The awards, granted through three funding streams, will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures and create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders. This includes the support for existing crisis intervention teams and the creation of new ones.
BJA’s STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program will provide 68 awards valued at more than $19 million. This funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.
The STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, also managed by BJA, will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises. This program will fund 85 awards at nearly $28 million. The WV Department of Education funding falls under this category.
The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) will provide nearly $25 million to 91 jurisdictions for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.
The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.
The Department also announced that it has awarded more than $64 million to state agencies to improve the completeness, quality, and accessibility of the nation’s criminal record systems. These grants are administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, part of OJP. Approximately $43 million in funding will be administered through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), and nearly $21 million will be awarded under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program. These grant programs help states automate and upgrade records accessed by the firearms background check system. This year, at the direction of the Attorney General, the Department prioritized funding for projects that improve accessibility of criminal history records, domestic violence convictions, and information on persons who are prohibited from possessing firearms for mental-health related reasons.
The Department is also investing over $1 million in research to better understand the factors behind mass shooting incidents. The grant awards, made by the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), part of OJP, support scientific investigations that will examine factors that contribute to mass violence, identify any patterns in mass shootings, analyze psychological and social life histories of mass shooters and community-level predictors of mass violence, and will examine firearm purchasing patterns of known mass shooters in order to create a risk prediction tool.
For addition information on today’s grant announcements, visit www.bja.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov.
NOTE: The breakdown of the STOP School Violence Grants can be found here: STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program, STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, and COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program
Wetzel County man sentenced for his connection to a drug distribution operation in Wetzel and Tyler CountiesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA –Randy Peffer, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to eight months incarceration for his involvement in methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin distribution that spanned multiple states, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Peffer, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine” in August 2018. Peffer admitted to selling methamphetamine in September 2017 in Wetzel County.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the case.
The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
Monongalia County woman sentenced for firearms conspiracyRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Margaret Parker, of Dellslow, West Virginia, was sentenced to three years probation* for her involvement in an illegal firearms operation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Parker, age 33, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Violate Federal Firearms Laws” in June 2018. She admitted to being involved in a conspiracy that included making false statements to purchase firearms, trading firearms for controlled substances, and transporting and selling the firearms in New York. The crime occurred in Morgantown, Monongalia County and elsewhere from May 2017 to June 2017.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
*Defendant was re-sentenced on March 5, 2019 and press release was updated.
Marshall County residents indicted on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Charles J. Chambers and Samantha J. Simmons, both of Moundsville, West Virginia, were indicted today by a federal grand jury on drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Chambers, age 44, is charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.”
Simmons, age 27, is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine” and two counts of “Distribution of Methamphetamine.”
Chambers and Simmons are accused of distributing methamphetamine in Marshall County from June to August 2018.
Chambers and Simmons face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Marshall County man indicted on drug distribution chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Kevin Mark Simms, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Simms, age 63, is charged with one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Oxycodone,” one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone,” and three counts of “Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Oxycodone.” Simms is accused of distributing oxycodone in Marshall County from July 2017 to December 2017.
Simms faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Harrison County man sentenced for firearms chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Wayne Wiles, Jr., of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 84 months incarceration for a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Wiles, age 31, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in May 2018. Wiles, having previously been convicted of three felonies, admitted to having a 9mm pistol, a .380-caliber pistol, and .243 caliber rifle in January 2018 in Harrison County.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Harrison County man sentenced for drug distribution and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jordan T. Ratliff, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 92 months incarceration for methamphetamine distribution and firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Ratliff, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in April 2018. Ratliff admitted to distributing methamphetamine in December 2017 in Harrison County. Ratliff, who had previously been convicted of crimes in Monongalia County, admitted to having a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in February 2018 in Harrison County.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department Mountain Highway Interdiction Team investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Philadelphia man and Wheeling man sentenced for drug chargesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – James R. Stewart, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Deion J. Jones, of Wheeling, West Virginia, were sentenced today to a combined 78 months for drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Stewart, also known as James R. Steward, Jr., age 32, was sentenced today to 41 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Cocaine” in July 2018. Stewart admitted to selling cocaine in Ohio County in November 2017.
Jones, age 27, was sentenced today to 37 months incarceration. He pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone” in July 2018. Jones admitted to selling oxycodone in Ohio County in June 2015.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp., Jr. presided.
Oklahoma man sentenced for sex offender registry violationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA –Marvin Gene McLaughlin, of Enid, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 30 months incarceration for a sex offender registry violation, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
McLaughlin, age 58, pled guilty to one count of “Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration” in June 2018. McLaughlin, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, admitted to traveling from Oklahoma to Marion County, West Virginia without updating his sex offender registration in January 2018.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service investigated.
Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
Lewis County man admits to drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – John David Davisson, of Weston, West Virginia, has admitted to firearms and methamphetamine distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Davisson, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Carry a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.” Davisson admitted to possessing a .45-caliber pistol and two 9mm pistols while possessing crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, in October 2017 in Lewis County.
Davisson faces up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for firearms count and faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the methamphetamine count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.