Five Federal Inmates Enter Pleas and Are Sentenced in Federal Court

CLARKSBURG, WV—Five USP Hazelton inmates entered pleas of guilty and were sentenced on April 6, 2011, in United States District Court in Clarksburg by Judge Irene M. Keeley.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that:

MICHAEL OWLE, age 22, entered a plea of guilty to one count of aiding and abetting two other inmates in the assault of an inmate causing multiple lacerations and stab wounds to the victim on March 30, 2010. OWLE was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 177-month sentence.

PASCUAL RUIZ-LAZARO, age 35, entered a plea of guilty to one count of aiding and abetting two other inmates in assaulting an inmate with homemade weapons (shanks). The victim sustained stab wounds as a result of the attack, on March 8, 2010. RUIZ-LAZARO was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 160-month sentence.

KEVIN JACKSON, age 27, entered a plea a plea of guilty to one count of forcibly assaulting a corrections officer, inflicting bodily injury, on January 30, 2009. JACKSON was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 160-month sentence.

MICHAEL SCROGGINS, age 34, entered a plea of guilty to one count of possession of an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on November 15, 2010. SCROGGINS was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 308-month sentence.

JOE BALLARD, age 30, entered a plea of guilty to one count of possession of an object that was designed and intended to be used as a weapon on September 24, 2010. BALLARD was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively with his current 57-month sentence.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services at USP Hazelton.