Logan County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge

CHARLESTON, WV—James E. Hall, 52, of Mount Gay, Logan County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston on federal drug charges. Hall pleaded guilty to distribution of hydrocodone and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. On four separate occasions from June 2009, through August 2010, Hall admitted to selling a total of 56 7.5-milligram hydrocodone pills in exchange for $333 cash to an informant. Hall further admitted to selling a total of approximately nine ounces of marijuana to a confidential informant on three separate occasions from June 2009, through August 2009, in exchange for $1085 cash. The defendant admitted that all of the drug transactions took place at his Logan County residence.

Hall faces up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine when he is sentenced on July 13, 2011. Hall also agreed to forfeit $15,000 cash in lieu of his real estate used to facilitate his drug trafficking.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, West Virginia State Police, and the U.S. 119 Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney William King is in charge of the prosecution.

Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge

CHARLESTON, WV—Robert Douglas Clark, 62, of Olney, Kanawha County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr., to being a felon in possession of firearms. Clark admitted to possessing two firearms at his Kanawha County residence on September 21, 2010. The defendant further admitted to possessing the firearms, after a conviction on or about June 5, 1989, in which he conducted a business enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.

Clark faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on June 20, 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Monica Schwartz is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia established “Hard Time for Gun Crime,” which is a community-based initiative in conjunction with Project Safe Neighborhoods to reduce and prevent gun violence throughout southern West Virginia. “Hard Time for Gun Crime” is a partnership that includes the cooperation of neighborhood associations, social service and law enforcement agencies.