Charleston man sentenced for aggravated identity theft

Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Troy Lawrence, 45, of Charleston, West Virginia, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft.  In July of 2014, Lawrence pleaded guilty to aggravated identify theft admitting that he used a dead person’s name and driver’s license to purchase pseudoephedrine from a Rite Aid store in Charleston.  Sellers of pseudoephedrine, like Rite Aid, are required by federal law to keep a logbook that identifies individuals who purchase pseudoephedrine.  This logbook helps law enforcement identify people who purchase pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine.  “Making and distributing methamphetamine is dangerous business,” said U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  “When buyers of pseudoephedrine lie about who they are, they obstruct law enforcement efforts to stop the spread of methamphetamine at the source.  We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that buyers and sellers of pseudoephedrine comply with laws intended to protect us from the unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine.”   

This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.