Tag: George White

Former Mingo Judge Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison

A former Mingo County judge has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for federal corruption charges.

Michael Thornsbury was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.

Thornsbury pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to deprive George White of his constitutional rights.

The conspiracy charge was related to a scheme to protect the late Sheriff Eugene Crum from illegal drug use accusations.

The sentence was more than the federal sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors had said Thornsbury should receive a lengthy sentence because he abused his power and damaged the county’s judicial system.

Thornsbury’s lawyers wanted leniency, saying he has cooperated with an ongoing federal corruption investigation in the county.

They say his wife divorced him, he lost his law license and pension, and someone burned down his parents’ home.

Figure in Mingo Probe Sues Ex-Officials, Others

A figure in the federal Mingo County corruption probe is suing several former county officials and others.     

George White’s lawsuit claims the defendants violated his constitutional rights and damaged his reputation.

White filed the lawsuit recently in Mingo County Circuit Court. The defendants include former Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury, former County Commissioner David Baisden and former prosecutor Michael Sparks.
 
Sparks and Thornsbury pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges regarding depriving White of his constitutional rights. Baisden pleaded guilty in an unrelated extortion case.
 
Federal prosecutors say Sparks, Thornsbury and Baisden cooked up a scheme to keep White from talking to the FBI about selling pills to the late Sheriff Eugene Crum.

Feds to Probe Evidence Handling in Mingo Case

Federal prosecutors are investigating the handling of evidence in a Mingo County drug case linked to a corruption probe.
 
Mingo County Sheriff James Smith tells the Charleston Daily Mail that a former deputy delivered a box of evidence to the sheriff’s department on Monday afternoon.
 The delivery came several hours after a circuit court judge dismissed the drug charges against George White of Delbarton.
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby tells the newspaper that federal prosecutors are investigating.

One of White’s attorneys, David Barney, and Boone County prosecutor Keith Randolph say they don’t think the evidence would have had an impact on White’s case. Randolph served as special prosecutor for the case.
 

Charges Dismissed Against Figure in Mingo Probe

A judge has dismissed drug charges against a central figure in a federal corruption investigation in Mingo County.
 

The Charleston Gazette reports that Circuit Judge John Cummings on Monday granted a special prosecutor’s request to dismiss the state charges against George White without prejudice. That means the charges can’t be filed again.
 
Federal prosecutors have said the late Sheriff Eugene Crum had White arrested instead of paying $3,000 he owed for campaign signs made by White. White then went to federal agents and told them he provided Crum with pills.
 
Former county prosecutor Michael Sparks and former Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury have pleaded guilty to federal charges that they kept White from talking to the FBI to protect Crum. Crum was killed in an unrelated shooting last April.

 

Figure in W.Va. Corruption Probe Wants Trial Moved

A central figure in the federal corruption investigation in Mingo County wants his trial moved out of the county.
 
     Lawyers for 65-year-old George White of Delbarton say their client can’t get a fair trial in Mingo County.
 
     The Charleston Gazette reports that White’s lawyers filed a motion last week in Mingo County Circuit Court requesting a change of venue.
 
     Former Mingo County prosecutor Michael Sparks has pleaded guilty to depriving White of his constitutional rights. Former Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury has pleaded guilty to conspiring to deprive White of his rights. They were charged in a scheme to protect the late Sheriff Eugene Crum from revelations that Crum bought drugs from White.
 
     White’s lawyers say Thornsbury and Sparks held significant political influence in Mingo County.
 

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