1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

January 8, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Morgantown Resident Named In Seven Count
Drug & Firearm Superseding Indictment

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 37 year old Morgantown, West Virginia, resident was named in a Superseding Indictment returned on January 6, 2009, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that RICARDO W. MADDOX was named in a seven-count Superseding Indictment. Counts One and Two of the Superseding Indictment allege that MADDOX distributed in excess of five grams of cocaine base on March 17, 2008, and May 27, 2008, in Morgantown. Count Three of the Superseding Indictment alleges that MADDOX distributed cocaine base and cocaine on June 20, 2008, in Morgantown. Count Four of the Superseding Indictment alleges that MADDOX possessed with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on December 4, 2008, in Morgantown. Count Five of the Superseding Indictment alleges that MADDOX possessed with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana on December 4, 2008, in Morgantown. Count Six of the Superseding Indictment alleges that MADDOX maintained a drug-involved premise in Morgantown from March 17, 2008, to December 4, 2008. Count Eleven of the Superseding Indictment alleges that MADDOX, who had previously been convicted of felony, possessed firearms and ammunition on December 4, 2008, in Morgantown.

The Superseding Indictment also carries a forfeiture count wherein the United States seeks to forfeit any property that was used or intended to be used to facilitate the commission of the offenses alleged in the Superseding Indictment. This includes, but is not limited to, $2,318.00 in United States currency; and firearms and ammunition which were seized during a search warrant executed on December 14, 2008.

If convicted, MADDOX faces maximum penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 each on Counts One and Two the Superseding Indictment; a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 each on Counts Three, Four, and Five of the Superseding Indictment; a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $500,000 on Count Six of the Superseding Indictment; and a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on Count Seven of the Superseding Indictment.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Fairmont Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CHARGES CONTAINED IN THE SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS AND NOT EVIDENCE OF GUILT, AND THAT EACH DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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