1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

January 14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Wheeling Resident Sentenced on
“Crack” Cocaine Conspiracy Charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A 27 year old Wheeling, West Virginia, resident was sentenced today (January 14, 2010), in United States District Court in Wheeling by Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that AUDRA SPARKS was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. SPARKS entered a plea of guilty on November 2, 2009, to one count of conspiracy to distribute “crack” cocaine from February 11, 2009, to March 19, 2009, in Wheeling.

As part of an investigation by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration focused on “crack” cocaine distribution in the Wheeling area, AUDRA SPARKS, Harold “Gene” Boggs, and Harold “Taco” Boggs, III were identified as individuals residing together at a Wheeling residence and dealing “crack” cocaine. Three controlled purchases of “crack” cocaine were made from this residence and a search warrant was executed at the location, where additional “crack” was found. “Gene” and “Taco” Boggs are already serving federal sentences for their roles in the conspiracy.

SPARKS was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a federal institution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr. The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Task Force consists of officers from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.