Anmoore Resident Sentenced For The Distribution Of Crack Cocaine Within 1,000 Feet Of The Clarksburg City Park

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Three others appear for Pleas and Sentencing

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II
announced that the following individuals recently appeared in Federal Court in Clarksburg.

RAYMOND RITCH a/k/a “RAY” was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be followed by six years of supervised release. RITCH entered a plea of guilty on January 29,
2013, to the distribution charge. RITCH was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution. This case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Shawn A. Morgan and investigated by the HarrisonCounty Drug and Violent Crime Task Force consisting of officers from the Clarksburg Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Bridgeport Police Department.

the Bridgeport Police Department; Clarksburg Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service; and, the United States Marshals Service.

ALLEN GARROD, age 55, an inmate at USP Hazelton, entered a plea of guilty to “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm” on December 9, 2012, when GARROD assaulted another inmate with a prison-make knife. GARROD was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 132-month sentence. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and investigated by the Special Investigative Services Staff at USP Hazelton.

FRANKLIN MCVAY, age 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” MCVAY, who was previously convicted in the Circuit Court of Marion County, West Virginia, on the felony charge of unlawful assault was prohibited from possessing a firearm. However, on January 19, 2013, MCVAY discharged multiple rounds from a handgun he possessed into the ceiling at a club in Morgantown. MCVAY, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a
$250,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

DAVID SOKOLOWSKI, age 42, of Pt. Marion, Pennsylvania, entered pleas of guilty to “Assault of a VA Police Officer” and “Disorder Conduct.” On February 15, 2013, SOKOLOWSKI went to the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg for treatment where he became disruptive while using a phone in the ER. When VA police officers arrived, he verbally threatened to kill them, hit one of the officers and threatened to shoot people in the ER, including the officers. SOKOLOWSKI, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 1 year imprisonment and a $300,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew R. Cogar and was investigated by the Veterans Administration Police.

RONALD CLEVENGER, age 70, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to “Embezzlement.” Between October of 1999 and September of 2010, CLEVENGER embezzled and converted Social Security supplemental income payments and Department of Labor Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation benefits in the amount of $115,150, which had been paid to his deceased mother. CLEVENGER, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew R. Cogar and was investigated by the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General.