Tag: February 2015
Oxycodone Deal Lands St. Albans Woman 5 Years Probation
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Katie Prater, 24, of St. Albans, West Virginia, will spend the next five years under federal supervision after being sentenced for her role in a Charleston-based oxycodone distribution scheme. The sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston, reflects a plea deal reached after Prater admitted to her intent…
Garcia Convicted of Heroin Trafficking
Heroin trafficking has once again reared its ugly head in West Virginia, with Juan Carlos Garcia, 44, of Moorefield, West Virginia, being convicted in federal court of selling the deadly drug. The conviction came after an investigation by the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, which revealed that Garcia sold heroin in November…
Fake Citizen Gets Seven Months, Deportation
KENNER, LA – Angel Lara-Merida, 44, a citizen of Mexico, received a seven-month sentence yesterday after admitting to fraudulently claiming U.S. citizenship to secure employment. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced the sentencing following a federal investigation that exposed a calculated scheme to steal another man’s identity. U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance handed down…
Orellana Faces Time for Illegal Re-Entry
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Jose Orellana, 35, a citizen of Honduras, admitted guilt yesterday to a federal charge stemming from his unauthorized return to the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite. Orellana pled guilty to one count of illegal entry of a removed alien, a violation of Title 18, United States Code,…
Charleston Heroin Dealer Groom Gets 58 Months
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kennele Groom, 36, of Charleston, is headed to federal prison for nearly five years after being sentenced for pushing heroin on the streets of the state capital. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced the 58-month sentence today, a stark warning to anyone else looking to profit from the misery of addiction. Groom pleaded…
Loxley Criminals Plead Guilty to Polysilicon Heist
Loxley’s Willie Richard Short and George J. Welford have admitted to a brazen scheme that netted them over $2.6 million in stolen polysilicon. The pair, aged 62 and 61 respectively, have pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Kristi K. Dubose for conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and conspiracy to launder proceeds…
Darrick Belcher Sentenced
Cocaine and crack cocaine distribution has landed one Alabama man behind bars. Darrick Donnell Belcher, 36, of Marion, has been sentenced in federal court for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute these illicit substances. Belcher pled guilty to the charge in October of 2014, setting the stage for his sentencing.…
Carlsbad Felon Lozuaway Admits to Gun Possession
Carlsbad Felon Lozuaway Admits to Gun Possession LAS CRUCES, NM – Deloris Lozuaway, 61, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, has admitted to illegally possessing firearms, entering a guilty plea in federal court yesterday. The conviction comes despite a lack of a plea agreement, signaling Lozuaway’s decision to take responsibility, however belatedly, for her actions. Lozuaway’s troubles…
Lebanon Hunter Gets 2½ Years for Illegal Gun
PORTLAND, ME – Lawrence Young, 54, of Lebanon, Maine, is heading to federal prison for 2½ years after being caught red-handed with a shotgun he wasn’t legally allowed to touch. U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby handed down the sentence today, solidifying a guilty plea entered back on September 30, 2014. The case stems…
Philly Man Pleads Guilty in Ambulance Kickback Scheme
PHILADELPHIA – In a stunning reversal of fortune, 61-year-old William Conner has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a massive Medicare fraud scandal that exploited the elderly and left taxpayers on the hook for over $2 million. The Philadelphia man admitted to accepting kickbacks and lying to law enforcement about his role in the scam. Conner’s scheme…
