Morgantown Residents Indicted For Theft Of Government Monies

1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Morgantown, West Virginia, residents have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on charges of theft of government monies.

U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Carl J. Gaul, age 40 and Shawn E. Ratliff, age 35 of Morgantown were named in a two-count Indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit embezzlement, theft and conversion of government funds and one count of embezzlement, theft and conversion of government funds. The Indictment charges that from May 1, 2013, to November 30, 2013, in Preston and Monongalia Counties, Gaul and Ratliff conspired to embezzle government monies by causing multiple credit card transactions using monies of the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. Gaul and Ratliff caused to be made purchases in the amount of $13,084.58, utilizing a government-issued credit card to purchase items for their own use and benefit.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking to forfeit One Sanyo 42” LED TV; Two JBL Onbeat Awake devices; Two IHOME devices; Three Bose SoundLink systems; Two Beats by Dre Beat Box devices; One JBL Flip device and a $13,084.58 money judgment which constitutes proceeds from the illegal activity.

If convicted, Gaul and Ratfliff face up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and 10 years in prison on the embezzlement charge. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin and was investigated by the United States Departemnt of Justice Office of Inspector General.

In other matters considered by the Grand Jury, Ihlenfeld announced that Joseph Garrett, age 50, of Haywood, West Virginia, was named in a two-count Indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted, Garrett faces up to 10 years in prison on each count. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn A. Morgan and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.