Newport News Woman Sentenced for Perjury

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Bettina Bugg, 30, of Newport News, Virginia, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for lying to a federal grand jury.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis on January 4, 2013.

Bugg pled guilty on July 6, 2012. According to court documents, Bugg was subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Newport News related to the investigation of a double homicide. The father of one of her children was identified as a suspect in the homicides. Bugg lied under oath in front of the grand jury and then approached a government witness and asked her to lie about the obstructive conduct.

“Bettina Bugg made a mockery of the grand jury system by lying during a murder investigation and trying to get someone else to lie as well,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “This tough sentence should be a clear warning that lying to a federal grand jury is a serious crime that could result in years behind bars.”

This case was investigated by FBI, Newport News Police Department, and Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.