1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
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March 1, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Grand Jury Indicts Eight Individuals

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Eight individuals were named in seven Indictments returned today (March 1, 2011), by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

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

❶BRANDON GUM, age 25, of Gassaway, West Virginia, was named in a three-count Indictment. Count One charges GUM with the sale of a stolen Weatherby, Model Patrician, 12 gauge shotgun on October 29, 2009; Count Two charges GUM with the sale of a stolen Husqvarna, Model 9000,.300 caliber rifle on October 30, 2009; and, Count Three charges GUM with the sale of a stolen Remington, Model 870, 212 gauge shotgun on November 2, 2009, all in Gassaway. If convicted, GUM faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count.

❷AARON L. COSNER, age 22 and CRYSTAL E. CROSS, age 24, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were named in a three-count Indictment. Counts One and Two charge COSNER and CROSS with making a false statement to licensed firearms dealers during the acquisition of firearms, which statements were intended to deceive said licensed dealers as to the intended buyer of the firearms, on June 23, 2010, in Marion County, West Virginia. Count Three charges COSNER with possession of a firearm on June 28, 2010, in Harrison County, West Virginia, after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. If convicted, COSNER and CROSS daces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count.

These cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley and were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

❸ANTHONY M. WORTHAM, age 29, of Woodridge, Virginia, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment charges WORTHAM with the possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine on January 29, 2011, in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Indictment also contains a Forfeiture Allegation wherein the United States seeks to forfeit $1,641 in United States currency which was seized from WORTHAM on January 29, 2011. If convicted, WORTHAM faces a maximum exposure of 5 to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr and was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

❹KEVIN JACKSON, age 27, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment charges JACKSON with forcibly assaulting a corrections officer at USP Hazelton, inflicting bodily injury, on January30, 2009. If convicted, JACKSON faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

❺CLYDE SCOTT, age 35, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment charges SCOTT with forcibly assaulting a corrections officer at FCI Gilmer, inflicting bodily injury, on February 9, 2010. If convicted, SCOTT faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

❻RUBEN LAUREL, age 32, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment charges LAUREL with possession of an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon at USP Hazelton on May 30, 2010. If convicted, LAUREL faces a maximum exposure of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

❼ANTONIO HALFACE, age 22, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment charges HALFACRE with possession of an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon at FCI Gilmer on January 26, 2010. If convicted, HALFACRE faces a maximum exposure of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

These case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services at USP Hazelton and FCI Gilmer.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.