Three Individuals Enter Pleas Of Guilty In Federal Court

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ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA - Three individuals entered pleas of guilty in United
States District Court in Elkins on March 27, 2013, before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull.

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

RONALD JOHN LOUK, age 30, of Churchsville, Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to
“Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration.” During the period October 20 to November
21, 2012, LOUK, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Notification Act and who traveled in interstate commerce, did knowingly fail to update his registration. LOUK, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Shawn A. Morgan and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the West Virginia State Police.

VELAIR VON COLLINS, II, age 42, of Elkins, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to the charge of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” COLLINS, having previously been convicted in the Circuit Court of Randolph County, West Virginia, of the felony offense of Driving Under the Influence-Third Offense, knowingly possessed a Harrington & Richardson shotgun and a Marlin rifle on September 4, 2012, in Elkins. COLLINS, who is on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Warner and was investigated by the Elkins Police Department and the West Virginia State Police.

JANEL PHILLIPS, age 44, of Belington, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to “Federal Program Fraud.” From January of 2007 to May of 2010, PHILLIPS, while working as a ombudsman for Legal Aid of West Virginia, submitted false mileage claims and time sheets to fraudulently obtain over $90,000 from the federally funded Long-Term Care Ombudsman Fund. PHILLIPS, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew R. Cogar and investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Legal Services Corporation-Office of Inspector General.