CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A Wheeling, West Virginia man was indicted today by a grand jury on extortion charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Eugene Robert LeClear, age 46, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Extortion" and three counts of “Interstate Communications with the Intent to Extort." LeClear is accused of conspiring with another to extort more than $14,000 from an individual from October to December 2017 in Ohio County.
LeClear faces up to five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy count and up to two years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each additional count. 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
