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November 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Five Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Five individuals were named in separate Indictments returned on November 3, 2009, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that:

JAMES A. LANHAM, age 34, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was named in a two-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that LANHAM, who was previously convicted of domestic violence, unlawfully possessed firearms in the Spring of 2009 and on June 11, 2009, in Harrison County. If convicted, LANHAM faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count of the Indictment. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

MATTHEW DAVID SANDY, age 24, was named in a two-count Indictment. Count One of the Indictment alleges that SANDY possessed and concealed stolen firearms from August 28, 2009, to September 2, 2009, in Clarksburg. Count Two of the Indictment alleges that SANDY, who was previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, unlawfully possessed firearms. If convicted, SANDY faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count of the Indictment. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn Angus Morgan. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

KIMBERLY CASTEEL, age 44, of Kingwood, West Virginia, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that CASTEEL embezzled approximately $80,783.00 from the Social Security Administration through the Title II Child’s Auxiliary Benefit from February 2001 to May 2008. If convicted, CASTEEL faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General – Social Security Administration.

DONALD SCOTT FARRAR, age 41, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that FARRAR manufactured more than 100 plants of marijuana on August 13, 2009, in Calhoun County. If convicted, FARRAR faces a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

ALEX NICHOLS, age 38, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that NICHOLS stole firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer on October 13, 2009, in Braxton County, West Virginia. If convicted, NICHOLS faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.