News and Press Releases

DOJ Seal

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

William J. Ihlenfeld, II
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY


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

August 26, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Three Ohio Residents Enter Pleas on Drug Charges

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Three Ohio residents entered pleas of guilty this week in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that:

MICHAEL DUFRASNE, age 37, of Martins Ferry, entered a plea of guilty on August 22, 2011, to one count of distributing crack cocaine on April 1, 2011, in Wheeling, West Virginia. DUFRASNE, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces a maximum penalty of twenty years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

DALLAS ACOFF, age 22, of Cleveland, entered a plea of guilty on August 24, 2011, to one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine between September 24, 2010, and April 19, 2011, in the Wheeling area. ACOFF, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

NEIL LIESER, age 39, of Martins Ferry, entered a plea of guilty on August 26, 2011, to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise for the purpose of distribute crack cocaine from September 24, 2010, to September 29, 2010. LIESER, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $500,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr and was investigated by 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.