MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Samuel Hogans, a 38-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, is facing a long stretch behind bars after receiving a 151-month federal sentence. The conviction stems from both drug distribution and the brazen act of possessing a homemade weapon – a shank – while already in prison. U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced the sentencing today, a clear message that dealing poison and bringing violence into correctional facilities won’t be tolerated.
Hogans, who also goes by the aliases Richard Hogans and “Lex,” initially earned a 60-month sentence for the shank found in his possession at the Eastern Regional Jail in Berkeley County back in August 2018. A jury found him guilty on one count of “Possessing Contraband in Prison” in December of that same year. He was already cooling his heels at the jail, awaiting adjudication on another federal charge, when he decided to arm himself. The details of how the shank made its way inside weren’t released, but authorities clearly weren’t amused.
But the prison weapon wasn’t Hogans’ only offense. The feds piled on with a separate, 151-month sentence to run concurrently with the first – bringing his total time to over twelve years. This sentence is tied to a guilty plea entered in December 2018 for one count of “Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Heroin.” Hogans admitted to peddling the deadly opioid in Berkeley County way back in October 2017, long before his incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Finucane skillfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Hogans. The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Marshal Service and the West Virginia Division of Corrections, demonstrating the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling crime that spans both the streets and behind bars. They’ve effectively removed another player from the drug trade, and ensured he’ll have plenty of time to contemplate his choices.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh handed down the sentence, seemingly unwilling to show leniency given the dual nature of Hogans’ crimes. Distributing heroin is bad enough, but attempting to create a dangerous environment within a correctional facility is a serious escalation. The judge’s decision sends a strong signal that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases in West Virginia and beyond, exposing the underbelly of criminal activity. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who choose to engage in drug trafficking and violence will face the full force of the law – and a very lengthy prison term.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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