Eleven Individuals Enter Pleas In Federal Court

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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that eleven individuals entered pleas of guilty in Federal Court.

DANIEL JOSEPH HANST, age 27, BRANDI RENEE SMITH, age 26, LISA NICOLE SMITH, age 24 and ANTHONY WILLIAM OURS, age 32, of Fairmont, West Virginia, entered pleas of guilty before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull to “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” and “Attempt to Possess Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” HANST and BRANDI SMITH, who are in custody, and LISA SMITH and OURS, who are free on bond, face up to 20 years in prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and investigated by the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Fairmont Police Department and the Fairmont State University Police Department.

ERIC SCOTT PENNINGTON, age 30, of Parsons, West Virginia, and, MISTY AUTUMN GRAFTON, age 26, of Hambleton, West Virginia, entered pleas of guilty before Judge Kaull to “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” PENNINGTON and GRAFTON, who are free on bond pending sentencing, face up to 20 years in prison. This case was investigated by the Monongahela National Forest-Law Enforcement and Investigations and the Tucker County Sheriff’s Department.

RONNIE GERALD BELT, age 52, of Camden on Gauley, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Kaull to “Possession of Material Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” BELT, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years in prison.

TRACI LYNN WILSON, age 27, of Moorefield, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Kaull to “Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1,000 Feet of a School.” WILSON, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 40 years in prison.

The BELT and WILSON cases were investigated by the West Virginia State Police.

ROBERT VAUGHN BARNETTE, II, age 28, of Weston, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Kaull to “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.” BARNETTE, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years in prison. This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Warner.

DONNA STURM, age 32, of Belington, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty before Magistrate Kaull to “Distribution of Marijuana” and “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” STURM, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 15 years in prison. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and, the West Virginia State Police.

SHANE O. BRANTLEY, age 36, of Sutton, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty before District Judge Irene M. Keeley to “Felon in Possession of a Firearm” on April 25, 2012, in Braxton County. BRANTLEY, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years in prison. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the Braxton County Sheriff’s Department; and, the Sutton Police Department.

The STURM and BRANTLEY cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley.