Pennsylvania Man Charged With Traveling To Have Sex With Minor Female

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Federal Grand Jury also returns drug and gun indictments

MARTINSBURG, WV – A Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor, according to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.

ANTHONY ALLEN PENNINGTON, age 24, is charged with transporting a minor female from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and engaging in sexual activity with her on May 18, 2013. PENNINGTON faces one count of “Transportation in Interstate Commerce of Minor for Purposes of Engaging in Sexual Activity,” and one count of “Traveling in Interstate Commerce with the Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.” If convicted, PENNINGTON faces up to life in prison on the transportation count and up to thirty years in prison on the traveling count.

PENNINGTON, who is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail, will appear in federal court for an initial appearance. The case was investigated by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department.

In addition, the following indictments were also returned:

NICHOLAS JAMES HALL, age 22, of Martinsburg, was charged with two counts of “Distribution of Crack Cocaine,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine,” two counts of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” and two counts of “Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.” The U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking to forfeit $5,898 in U.S. currency as well as firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement officers. If convicted, HALL faces up to 30 years in prison on each of the drug charges and up to 10 years in prison on each of the firearms charges. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

THEOFANIS MAVROUDIS, age 45, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was charged with “Failure to Register as Sex Offender” from April 2012 to November 21, 2012, in Charles Town, West Virginia. If convicted, MAVROUDIS faces up to ten years in prison. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

The PENNINGTON, HALL and MAVROUDIS cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod J. Douglas.

BRANDON L. WHITE, age 29, of Martinsburg, was charged with one count of “Stealing Public Money” and two counts of “False Statement.” The Indictment charges WHITE with providing false travel vouchers to the VA Medical Center for reimbursement for travel from a false address in Augusta, West Virginia, in the approximate amount of $10,076.58. If convicted, WHITE faces up to ten years in imprisonment on the stealing public money charge and five years in prison on the false statement charges. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and was investigated by the Veterans Administration, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.

DONNIE COLLINS, age 28, was charged with three counts of “Distribution of Heroin,” one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin,” and one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearms.” The U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking to forfeit three firearms seized by law enforcement officers. If convicted, COLLINS faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the drug charges and up to 10 years in prison on the firearms charges.

CODY ASHBY, age 21, of Martinsburg, was charged with “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” The U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking a firearm and ammunition seized by law enforcement officers. If convicted, ASHBY faces up to 10 years in prison.

These case were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

RENE GONZALEZ-BERMUDEZ, was charged with “Illegal Reentry After Removal.” If convicted, GONZALEZ-BERMUDEZ faces up to two years imprisonment. The case was investigated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI).

The COLLINS, ASHBY and GONZALEZ-BERMUDEZ cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti.

All of the charges contained in the above-referenced indictments are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.