FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - October 8, 2008

WASHINGTON MAN SENTENCED FOR
MAKING FALSE STATEMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court yesterday United States Magistrate Judge James E. Gates sentenced WILLIAM MAJOR FOSTER, JR., 20, of Washington, North Carolina, to 30 days’ imprisonment followed by one year of probation. Restitution of $8,041.43 was imposed.

A Criminal Information was filed on August 11, 2008 charging FOSTER with false statements to law enforcement. In retaliation for a disagreement that resulted in a fight with his father and after having left the scene, FOSTER called in a false report of an oil spill in the Wrights Creek area of Beaufort County, North Carolina. The Coast Guard was dispatched, only to find that there was no oil spill. FOSTER confessed to phoning in the false report during an investigative interview.

“The Court’s 30-day sentence will give this defendant a chance to reflect on the seriousness of his crime. The defendant’s actions impeded the work of the Coast Guard and cost the taxpayers a good deal of money. We cannot tolerate any fake reports to law enforcement,” commented Mr. Holding.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Coast Guard. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Evenson served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.