Ten Individuals Sentenced During The Month Of August For Federal Supervised Release Violations

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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that during the month of August, 2013, ten (10) individuals had their supervised release revoked for violating terms and conditions imposed by the United States District Court.

WHEELING DIVISION REVOCATIONS

(Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.)

THOMAS MACNEILL, age 31, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced to 12 months and
1 day imprisonment for possession and use of synthetic marijuana, oxycodone and morphine and failure to attend substance abuse treatment appointments. MACNEILL was originally sentenced on August 19, 2008, to 51 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for interstate travel to promote the distribution of heroin. MACNEILL was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

JEROME BLEDSOE, age 58, of Wheeling, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for testing positive for the use of cocaine on two separate occasions. BLEDSOE was originally sentenced on December 18, 2007, to 63 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine HCL. On May 7, 2012, BLEDSOE’s supervised release was revoked and he was sentenced to 48 hours imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for testing positive for the use of cocaine. BLEDSOE will self-report to the designated Federal institution.

KEISHA RENEE PHILLIPS, age 25, of Wheeling, was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment for possession and use of alcohol, failure to comply with her mental health and substance abuse treatment program, conviction in Ohio County for shoplifting, and a DUI arrest in Pennsylvania. PHILLIPS was originally sentenced on July 29, 2011, to two years probation for providing false statements to a Deputy United States Marshal. On August 14,
2012, PHILLIPS’ supervised release was revoked and she was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment for failure to report law enforcement contact to the probation office. PHILLIPS will self-report to the designated Federal institution.

The United States was represented at the Wheeling revocation hearings by Assistant
United States Attorneys John C. Parr and Randolph J. Bernard.

CLARKSBURG DIVISION REVOCATIONS (Judge Irene M. Keeley)
DIONNE JAY LEWIS, age 43, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment for unlawful use and possession of a controlled substance. LEWIS was originally sentenced on August 17, 2008, to 68 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine. On October 28, 2011, LEWIS’ sentence was reduced to 56 months pursuant to the crack re-sentencing guidelines. LEWIS was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

PETROUS NGOZI HAWKINS, 34, of Whitehall, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment to be followed by 38 months of supervised release for a new arrest by the Morgantown Police Department and being charged in Monongalia County Magistrate Court with being a felon in possession of a firearm, concealing stolen property and possession of a loaded firearm in vehicle. HAWKINS was originally sentenced on March 21, 2009, to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a protected location. HAWKINS was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

TIMOTHY PAUL CONNOLLY, age 34, of Clarksburg, was sentenced to 7 months imprisonment to be followed by 29 months of supervised release for testing positive for the use of narcotics. CONNOLLY was originally sentenced on September 4, 2008, to 57 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On May 16, 2010, CONNOLLY’s sentenced was reduced to 36 months imprisonment. CONNOLLY was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

The United States was represented at the Clarksburg revocation hearings by Assistant
United States Attorneys Shawn A. Morgan and Zelda E. Wesley.

MARTINSBURG DIVISION REVOCATIONS (Judge Gina M. Groh)
MELISSA KEMP, age 35, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for testing positive for the use of codeine, morphine, hydromorphone and cocaine and associating with convicted felons without her probation officer’s permission. KEMP was originally sentenced on July 6, 2011, to 10 months imprisonment and 6 years of supervised release for the distribution of heroin. On May 10, 2012, KEMP’s supervised release was revoked and she was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment and 59 months of supervised release for providing false information to her probation officer regarding status of driver’s license and testing positive for the use of cocaine and morphine. KEMP was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

JOHN FERGUSON, age 45, of Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, was sentenced to
16 months imprisonment to be followed by 20 months of supervised release for a new arrest

for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and sexual assault 2nd degree.

FERGUSON was originally sentenced on August 16, 2010, to 37 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for the distribution of crack cocaine. FERGUSON was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

MELVIN WHITE, age 32, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment to be followed by 38 months of supervised release for failure to timely submit monthly reports to the probation office, possession of controlled substances, testing positive for the use of controlled substances, failure to be truthful with the probation officer, and failure to report to the probation office as directed. On September 11, 2012, WHITE’s supervised release was revoked and he was sentenced to 5 months imprisonment and 20 months of supervised release for failure to timely report a change of address, traveling outside the district without prior approval, and a new violation for drug possession. WHITE was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

OLIN GASKINS, age 36, of Capon Bridge, West Virginia, was sentenced to 7 months imprisonment to be followed by 36 months of supervised release for use of controlled substance, associating with a convicted felon without his probation officer’s permission, failure to timely notify probation officer of change of address and failure to be truthful with the probation officer. GASKINS was originally sentenced on January 29, 2007, to 70 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. GASKINS was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

The United States was represented at the Martinsburg revocation hearings by Assistant
United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti.

The United States Probation Office carries out probation and pretrial services functions throughout the Northern District of West Virginia. With locations in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, and Elkins, the office works to assist the federal courts in the fair administration of justice, to protect the community, and to bring about long-term positive change in individuals under supervision. Jeff Givens is the Chief Probation Officer for the Northern District.