Tag: Mingo Corruption

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.

 

Sentencing Postponed for Ex-Mingo Prosecutor

A former Mingo County prosecutor’s sentencing in a federal corruption investigation has been pushed back a week.
 
Michael Sparks will be sentenced March 5 in U.S. District Court in Charleston. Sparks had been scheduled for sentencing next Monday.
 
Sparks and former Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury were accused of protecting the late Sheriff Eugene Crum from revelations that Crum bought drugs from a campaign sign maker. Authorities said Sparks and Thornsbury kept the sign maker, George White, from talking to the FBI about Crum, who was killed in an unrelated shooting last April.  
 
Last year, Sparks pleaded guilty to depriving White of his constitutional rights and Thornsbury pleaded guilty to conspiring to deprive White of his rights.
 
Thornsbury is set for sentencing on April 21.
 

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.
 

Ex-Mingo Commissioner Sentenced to 20 Months

A former Mingo County commissioner has been sentenced to more than a year in prison on a federal extortion charge.
 
     David Baisden received a 20-month sentence Wednesday in federal court in Charleston.
 
     He pleaded guilty in October to trying to buy tires for his personal vehicle at a government discount in 2009, then terminating the county’s contract with Appalachian Tire when it refused to cooperate.
 
     Earlier this month, the 67-year-old Delbarton resident agreed to pay a total of $7,700 in restitution to Appalachian Tire and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
 
     Baisden’s attorney had asked for probation. Federal prosecutors sought a prison term between two and two-and-a-half years.

Feds Seek Delay in Ex-W.Va. Judge's Sentencing

Federal prosecutors are seeking a delay in the sentencing of a former Mingo County circuit judge so they can have more time to investigate information he provided in a corruption probe.
 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby filed a motion Thursday asking a federal judge to delay Michael Thornsbury’s Jan. 13 sentencing by 90 days.
 

Ruby’s motion says prosecutors don’t anticipate their investigation stemming from Thornsbury’s cooperation will be finished by his sentencing date.

Thornsbury resigned in October before pleading guilty to conspiring to deprive campaign sign maker George White of his constitutional rights.
 
The charge states Thornsbury helped devise a scheme to keep White from talking to the FBI about allegedly providing Sheriff Eugene Crum with prescription pills. Crum was killed in April in an unrelated shooting.
 

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