By Teri Cayton
The Parsons Advocate
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that a Federal Grand Jury, sitting in Elkins, returned a 39-count indictment charging six Tucker County residents with drug charges related to the manufacture of methamphetamine.
· Destry Seth Poling, 26, of Parsons, faces a total of five counts.
· Shannon David Flagg, aka “Shane”, 40, of Hambleton, faces a total of fourteen counts.
· Susan Chloe Ridley, 47, of Parsons, faces a total of six counts.
· Misty Autumn Grafton, 25, of Hambleton faces a total of six counts.
· Eric Scott Pennington, 29, of Parsons, faces a total of ten counts.
· Michael Luther White, 22, of Thomas, faces two counts.
· Pennington and White are also charged with “Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine” from November of 2012 to June 2013, in Tucker, Randolph, Upshur and Preston Counties.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, other charges include the possession of material used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of pseudoephedrine to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and attempted possession of pseudoephedrine to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Each defendant faces penalties of up to 20 years in prison. Under Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Warner and was investigated by agents and officers of the Monongahela National Forest Law Enforcement and Investigations Division.
The grand jury also returned the following indictments this week:
· Chad Frederick Arbogast, 34, of Belington, was named in a seven-count Indictment charging him with “Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone and Heroin.” If he is convicted, Arbogast faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each count. This case will be prosecuted by Warner and was investigated by the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
· Michael J. White, 45, of Clarksburg, was named in a four-count Indictment charging him with one count of “Stealing Public Money” and three counts of “False Statement.” If convicted, White faces up to ten years imprisonment on the public money charge and up to five years on each of the false statement charges. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.
According to the press release from the Office of the United States Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia, the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
