WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Christopher Michael Previtera, 48, of Proctor, West Virginia, was convicted of oxycodone trafficking and bank fraud in federal court, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
Previtera, who owned and operated an automotive services business in Wetzel County, West Virginia, pled guilty to two separate criminal Informations. In doing so he admitted that throughout 2014 and 2015, he conspired with other individuals to possess and distribute oxycodone in Marshall and Wetzel Counties. He also acknowledged to committing fraud in connection with a loan that he obtained in order to finance the purchase of his business.
He faces up to thirty years in prison for the bank fraud conviction, and up to twenty years for the drug conspiracy conviction. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Previtera has agreed to forfeit his interest in multiple firearms, $15,070 in United States currency, real property, a 2007 Dodge Ram truck, various John Deere lawn care machinery, and various equipment and inventory related to the automotive services business. Previtera will also be required to pay money judgments in the amount of $145,000 in the drug trafficking case and $91,522.74 in the bank fraud case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation investigated the bank fraud charges. The West Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the drug trafficking charges.
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
