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(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

July 8, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Three Individuals Entered Pleas of Guilty in Federal Court

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Three co-defendants involved in a multi-kilogram cocaine and marijuana conspiracy entered pleas of guilty on July 6, 2010, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. for their activity in the conspiracy.

United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that:

KIMBERLY ANN MARSHALL, age 37, formerly of Wheeling and now residing in Martins Ferry, Ohio, entered a plea of guilty to one count of an Indictment charging her with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute cocaine on July 24, 2009, in Wheeling. MARSHALL was stopped regarding an outstanding warrant from Ohio for failure to appear for drug court, and approximately 1/2 ounce of cocaine was found hidden on her person. MARSHALL, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

JENNIFER SORG, age 39, and STACEY DAWN MINTER, both formerly of Wheeling and now residing in Morgantown, West Virginia, entered pleas of guilty to one count of an Indictment charging them with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments by conducting financial transactions with the proceeds of their unlawful activity, that is the distribution of cocaine and marijuana, knowing the property involved in the financial transaction represented the proceeds of the unlawful activity. SORG and MINTER conducted multiple financial transactions beginning in December of 2005 up through November of 2006, by laundering checks made out to “cash” by endorsing and cashing the checks which were payment for the purchase of drugs. SORG conducted multiple financial transactions beginning in July, 2006, up through November, 2006, with checks for as much as $2,800 for a total of $15,600. MINTER conducted multiple financial transactions beginning in December, 2005, up through September, 2006, with checks for as much as $2,500 for a total of $21,000.

In addition to the laundering of the checks, SORG also assisted in concealing the obtaining of a motor vehicle with drug proceeds. To conceal the true ownership of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade purchased on August 8, 2005, for $30,000, SORG and another individual executed all the necessary documents including purchase agreement and financial documents to make it appear that they were the owners of the vehicle rather than the individual purchasing the same. Payments for the car, both the down payment and monthly payments came, at least in part from drug sales of cocaine and marijuana. The investigation revealed SORG was aware the source of the funds was from cocaine and marijuana sales. As part of the plea agreement, SORG admitted that her laundering activities resulted from the conspiracies sales of 1,200 grams of cocaine and 550 grams of marijuana. MINTER also was aware the source of the funds was from cocaine and marijuana sales, and as part of her plea admitted the checks she laundered were proceeds from the sale of 650 grams of cocaine and 200 grams of marijuana.

SORG and MINTER, who are free on bond pending sentencing, each face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $500,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr. The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force. The Task Force consists of officers from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.