Lebanon Woman Sentenced for Harboring Fugitive

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A Lebanon, Va., woman, who was previously convicted of harboring a fugitive, was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in federal prison, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen announced.

Desari Marie Schossig, 33, pleaded guilty in July 2019 to one count of harboring a fugitive.

“Assisting a fugitive to evade capture is a serious federal crime and one that can result in a lengthy prison sentence,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today.  “We will continue to assist the U.S. Marshals Service with these important cases and hold those responsible for harboring fugitives accountable under federal law.” 

According to court documents, in October 2018 the U.S. Marshals informed Schossig that a federal arrest warrant had been issued for Brandon Whitt, who the defendant was known to have been in a relationship with. Whitt was wanted on federal drug charges. From approximately December 2018 through early 2019, Schossig began staying overnight at a room being rented by Whitt. During this time, Schossig cooked meals for Whitt, drove him places, bought him groceries, and brought him food from local restaurants.

In March 2019, while Schossig was incarcerated on state charges, she communicated with Whitt, and others, via phone and email in order to help Whitt obtain account passwords, a phone, credit or debit cards, money, and to help him re-title a vehicle.

The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Cagle Juhan prosecuted the case for the United States.