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

 

September 2, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wheeling Resident Entered Guilty Plea to
Using a Telephone to Distribute Marijuana

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 33 year old Wheeling, West Virginia, resident entered a plea of guilty today (September 2, 2010) in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that GREGORY G. TSORAS entered a plea of guilty to a one-count Information charging him with using the public telephone system to facilitate the distribution of marijuana on July 2, 2009, in Wheeling. According to USA Ihlenfeld, testimony at the plea hearing disclosed that a 2+ year investigation into the cocaine and marijuana conspiracy activities of Robert “RJ” Saunders identified TSORAS as an individual who supplied Saunders with high quality marijuana. When approached, TSORAS admitted supplying Saunders and others with between 11 and 22 pounds of marijuana.

TSORAS, who is currently free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

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