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CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Three Fairmont residents have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in making methamphetamine.
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Daniel Joseph HANST, age 28, Brandi Rene SMITH, 27, and Anthony William OURS, 32, all of Fairmont, were each sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for “Possession of Pseudoephedrine to be Used in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine." The Fairmont defendants, who are free on bond, will self-report to prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and investigated by the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, consisting of officers from the Fairmont Police Department and the Fairmont State University Police Department. U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.
In other matters before Judge Keeley, Michael John Luther GRIFFIN, age 34, of Clarksburg, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for “Distribution of Heroin." GRIFFIN’s sentence was increased by the Court due to violations of his pretrial release. GRIFFIN was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn A. Morgan and investigated by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
Luis Alberto GARCIA, age 34, and Victor ESTANGLE-FLORES, age 35, former inmates at United States Penitentiary at Hazelton, were sentenced to 24 months in prison for “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm." GARCIA and ESTANGLE-FLORES were remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal. These cases were investigated by the Special Investigative Services Unit at USP Hazelton.
Jovan MANNING, age 36 and formerly an inmate at FCI Gilmer, entered pleas of guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to run consecutive to his current 228-month sentence, for “Conspiracy to Commit Bribery of a Public Official" and “Bribery of a Public Official." MANNING admitted to conspiring with a correctional officer at FCI Gilmer and another inmate to smuggle tobacco into the prison on multiple occasions. The correctional officer provided the tobacco to MANNING and the other inmate in exchange for having contacts on the outside of the prison send money totaling approximately $40,000. MANNING received money from other inmates when he sold the tobacco in the prison. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General.
Rene LAPOINTE, age 44, an inmate at FCI Cumberland and former inmate at USP Hazelton, entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 15 months in prison to run consecutive to his current 18-month sentence for “Assault of a Correctional Officer Resulting in Injury."
Douglas LAZO-TORRES, age 32, an inmate at USP Hazelton, entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in prison to run consecutive to his current 80-month sentence for “Possession of a Prohibited Object." On Sept. 25, 2013, staff at USP Hazelton removed a metal shank from LAZO-TORRE’s shoe.
The LAPOINTE and LAZO-TORRES cases were investigated by the Special Investigative Services Unit at USP Hazelton.
Each of the prison cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower.
MICHAEL J. WHITE, age 45, of Clarksburg, was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $23,795 to the Veterans Administration Medical Center for “Stealing Public Money." This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.
The following individuals entered pleas of guilty before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull:
TROY EVANS, age 38, of Michigan, entered a plea of guilty to “Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine." EVANS, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years in prison.
STEVEN JIMERSON, age 25, of Michigan, entered a plea of guilty to “Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone." JIMERSON, who is in custody pending sentencing, faces up to 20 years in prison.
The EVANS and JIMERSON cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley and investigated by the Mon Valley Drug & Violent Crime Task Force.
DONNA IRONS, age 37, of Clarksburg, entered a plea of guilty to “Distribution of Marijuana." IRONS, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 5 years in prison. This case was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar and investigated by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
MARLENA MAE LONG, age 49, of Sutton, West Virginia, entered a plea of guilty to “Theft of Mail by a Postal Employee." LONG, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 5 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Stein and investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
