News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2007
In matters prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia:
BARBOURSVILLE MAN ADMITS TO GUN CRIMES SURROUNDING CARJACKING
Charleston, WV – JONATHAN HALL, 25, of Barboursville, WV, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin admitting that he possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense, and he used and carried the firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On July 4, 2006, HALL, armed with a 9mm pistol, broke into a residence in Sod, Lincoln County, West Virginia and proceeded to rob the house. During the robbery, the owners of the residence came home. HALL held the home owners at gunpoint while leading them through the house to find items of value, including jewelry and cash. Then, while HALL held one of the victims at gunpoint, he instructed the other victim to retrieve their truck from their garage and drive it to the side of their house. HALL then stole the truck. HALL was subsequently apprehended a few miles away when he wrecked the stolen truck on US Rt. 119.
When police arrived on the scene, they found HALL in possession of the gun, jewelry and cash that he had stolen from the victims. HALL was prohibited from possessing the firearm by virtue of his previous felony conviction of aggravated assault in Lawrence County, Ohio.
HALL, who is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2007, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years and up to life in prison and a $500,000 fine. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted the Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Bleattler is handling the prosecution.
CHARLESTON MAN SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS IN PRISON
Charleston, WV – TIMMY LEE CHAPMAN, 38, of Charleston, WV, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to 21 months in prison for possession of stolen firearms. CHAPMAN, who previously pled guilty to the federal gun charge this past March, admitted that on April 26, 2006, he possessed four stolen firearms. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police jointly conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston handled the prosecution.
CHARLESTON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CRACK COCAINE CHARGE
Charleston, WV – EARL MILLER, SR., 46, of Charleston, WV, pled guilty before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to possession with the intent to deliver five grams or more of cocaine base. The conviction stems from an investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). On April 27, 2006, task force officers received a tip that MILLER was cooking cocaine into crack cocaine at a Dunbar, WV apartment. Officers responded and were given permission to enter the residence. MILLER was found in the kitchen with crack cocaine, cocaine powder, scales and $1,600 dollars in cash. MILLER, who is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2007, faces up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. The Dunbar Police Department assisted in MILLER'S arrest. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is handling the prosecution.