WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wetzel County man has been convicted of passing counterfeit money and illegally possessing a firearm, according to Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen.
Franklin K. Dotson, 32, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of “Uttering Counterfeit Obligations or Securities” and one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.”
The counterfeit money scheme unfolded in February 2017 when Dotson used the fake cash at a local 7 Eleven in New Martinsville. His prior conviction for bank robbery in the US District Court in 2011 did not deter him from continuing his life of crime.
Dotson, who is currently facing up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for count one, and up to ten years and a fine of up to $250,000 for count two, will receive a sentence based on the seriousness of the offenses and his prior criminal history, if any.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp presided over the case, which serves as a harsh reminder that those who engage in illicit activities will be held accountable.
The conviction is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies in West Virginia working to keep their communities safe from financial crimes and the dangers of illegal firearms.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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