Stanley Logs Jail Time for Forest Service Heist

ABINGDON, VA – Justin Alexander Stanley, 21, of Pound, Virginia, is trading tree stumps for steel bars after being sentenced today for a brazen timber heist on U.S. Forest Service land. The scheme, motivated purely by profit, earned Stanley three months in federal prison and a hefty $20,457 restitution order, U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced.

Stanley pled guilty to one count of illegally removing timber from public lands and one count of illegally cutting or injuring timber on public lands. Court records reveal Stanley purchased a parcel of land in Wise County in 2015, conveniently bordering Forest Service property. He intended to log his own land, but greed quickly extended his reach beyond legal boundaries.

Despite a surveyed and marked property line, Stanley didn’t bother with niceties. He systematically felled approximately 42 trees from the U.S. Forest Service’s holdings – trees described as “large and very valuable.” This wasn’t a simple case of straying over the line; it was a calculated effort to boost his profits at the expense of public resources.

The damage didn’t stop at the trees. Stanley, eager to haul out his ill-gotten gains, used a bulldozer to carve out four unauthorized “roads” through the forest, further scarring the landscape. The value of the stolen and damaged timber totals $14,272, while erosion control efforts to repair the illegally constructed roads are estimated to cost another $6,177, bringing the total restitution to $20,457.

“Protecting our public lands is paramount to ensuring future generations have natural resources to enjoy,” stated U.S. Attorney Fishwick. “When individuals like Mr. Stanley destroy these resources for profit, law enforcement will hold them accountable.” Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, who prosecuted the case, successfully demonstrated the calculated nature of Stanley’s crime.

The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry, highlighting the agencies’ commitment to protecting natural resources. This case serves as a stark warning: exploiting public lands for personal gain won’t go unnoticed, and will be met with federal prosecution. Stanley will likely have plenty of time to reflect on his poor choices behind bars.