Linda Weston, a 55-year-old Philadelphia resident, pleaded guilty to all charges in a racketeering and hate crimes case that involved holding disabled adults captive in locked closets, basements, and attics in Philadelphia’s Tacony section and in other states.
Weston pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in the death of the victim, forced human labor, involuntary servitude, multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering, hate crime, violent crime in aid of racketeering, sex trafficking, kidnapping, theft of government funds, wire fraud, mail fraud, use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and false statements.
U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 5, 2015. Weston has agreed to receive a sentence of life plus 80 years in prison, restitution, fines, supervised release, and special assessments.
From approximately 2001 through October 2011, Weston and her co-conspirators lured mentally handicapped individuals into locations rented by Weston, Jean McIntosh, Eddie Wright, and others in Philadelphia; Killeen, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; and West Palm Beach, Florida.
The group targeted mentally challenged individuals who were estranged from their families. Once Weston convinced them to move in, she became their representative payee with Social Security and began to receive their disability benefits and in some instances, their state benefits.
Weston’s crimes came to an end on October 15, 2011, when Philadelphia Police officers rescued the victims from the sub-basement of an apartment building in the city’s Tacony section.
The victims were confined to locked rooms, basements, closets, attics, and apartments, where they were often isolated, in the dark, and sedated with drugs placed in their food and drink by Weston and other defendants.
Weston’s daughter, McIntosh, and co-defendant Wright have already pleaded guilty. Co-defendants Gregory Thomas, Sr., and Nicklaus Woodard are awaiting trial.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigations, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ West Palm Beach Field Office.
Defendant/respondent: Linda Weston
City and state: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Exact date: Approximately 2001 through October 2011
Sentence or outcome: Life plus 80 years in prison, restitution, fines, supervised release, and special assessments
Dollar amounts: None
Exact criminal charges: Racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in the death of the victim, forced human labor, involuntary servitude, multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering, hate crime, violent crime in aid of racketeering, sex trafficking, kidnapping, theft of government funds, wire fraud, mail fraud, use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and false statements
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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