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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A 42 yera old Brooke County, West Virginia, resident entered a plea of guilty on January 29, 2013, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that: JAMES W. RICHARD entered a plea of guilty to “Mailing Threatening Communications.” RICHARD, who was previously convicted in Brooke County Circuit Court of breaking and entering, domestic assault X2 and brandishing a deadly weapon, was incarcerated at the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Center in Moundsville. On April 16, 2012, while incarcerated, RICHARD deposited and mailed a letter which contained threats to injure individuals involved in his underlying criminal convictions in Brooke County. RICHARD, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.