FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 30, 2012
BECKLEY MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BURGLARY OF FEDERAL POST OFFICE
BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Raleigh County man was sentenced to eight months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for burglary and aiding and abetting the burglary of a federal post office. Benjamin J. Webb, 39, of Beckley, previously pleaded guilty in May. Webb admitted that on October 30, 2011, he and co-defendant Timothy Taylor, 31, arrived at the Fairdale Post Office located in Beckley, W.Va. and gained entry into the post office by smashing a glass door using a sledgehammer. The post office was closed at the time the burglary occurred. Webb further admitted that once he and Taylor were inside of the post office, they stole nine packages and fled the scene.
Webb also admitted that the packages stolen from the post office were addressed to him and contained quantities of prohibited synthetic stimulants commonly known as “bath salts.”
The Court also ordered the defendant to pay $1200 in restitution.
Last week, a federal jury sitting in Beckley convicted co-defendant Timothy Taylor for his role in the post office burglary scheme. Trial evidence revealed that Taylor forcibly broke into or aided and abetted co-defendant Benjamin Webb in the forcible break-in of the Fairdale Post Office.
Taylor faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on January 10, 2013.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.
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