1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Chris Zumpetta-Parr, Public Affairs Specialist
Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Four individuals were named in four separate
Indictments returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling, West Virginia, on February
5, 2013.
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced the following indictments: WILLIAM TORRES a/k/a “BILLY," age 28, of Wheeling, was named in a one-count
Indictment charging him with “Felon in Possession of a Firearm." The indictment alleges that TORRES possessed a firearm on December 7, 2012, in Wheeling, despite having a prior felony conviction from the New York County Supreme Court for the felony offense of “Attempted Robbery, First Degree." In addition to pursuing a felony charge the United States is also seeking to forfeit the Kel-Tec, PF-9, 9mm Luger that TORRES allegedly possessed. If convicted, WILLIAMS faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case will be prosecuted by USA Ihlenfeld and Assistant United States Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms.
JEFFREY JOSEPH OLIVER, age 25, of Wheeling, was named in a one-count Indictment charging him with “Possession of Child Pornography" on June 12, 2012, in Wheeling. The Indictment also contains a Forfeiture Allegation wherein the United States seeks to forfeit the computer and all storage devices, including approximately 181 CDs and DVDs, a cell phone and a Playstation and memory card which were seized from OLIVER on June 12, 2012. If convicted, OLIVER faces a maximum exposure of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. This case will be prosecuted by by Assistant United States Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and was investigated by the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal
Investigations. This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
CHARLES J. WESTBROOKS, age 47, of Paden City, West Virginia, was named in a one-count Indictment charging him with “Theft of Public Funds." The Indictment alleges that from October of 2009 to September of 2011, WEST BROOKS unlawfully received monies from Veterans Administration Dependency and Indemnity Compensation which were intended for another. If convicted, WEST BROOKS faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Perri and was investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General- Criminal Investigation Division.
MAXIMO HERNANDEZ-PEREZ, age 26, was charged in a one-count indictment with “Re-Entry by a Removed Alien." On Nov. 18, 2012, HERNANDEZ-PEREZ was found in Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia, after having been removed in October of 2008, and had not received consent to reapply for admission to the United States. If convicted, HERNANEZ-PEREZ faces up to two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and deportation. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States David J. Perri and was investigated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI).
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
