Nicholas County Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Oxycodone Charges

CHARLESTON, WV—Roger Lee Foster, 36, of Craigsville, Nicholas County, West Virginia, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison yesterday by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston for distributing oxycodone. Foster pleaded guilty on September 16, 2010 and admitted to distributing oxycodone to an informant working for the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force in March and April 2008.

The investigation was conducted by the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Hanks handled the prosecution.

Fayetteville Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

BECKLEY, WV—Joseph W. Lies, 57, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger to possessing child pornography. On April 29, 2010, Lies admitted to possessing more than 600 images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, that is, actual or stimulated sexual intercourse and the lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic area of the minors. Lies further admitted to downloading many of the images and videos using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program called Limewire, which was installed on his computer at his Fayetteville residence. In March 2008, an undercover officer downloaded an image of child pornography that was distributed by Lies. Many of the images and videos depict known children who have been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Lies faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on August 4, 2011.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Johnston is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about cases and related activities please visit www.usdoj.gov/usao/wvs and www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Beckley Federal Corrections Inmate Pleads Guilty to Weapon Possession Charge

BECKLEY, WV—Beckley federal corrections inmate Ibrahim Farooq, 27, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger to possession of a weapon by a federal inmate. On August 25, 2010, Farooq was an inmate at the Federal Corrections Institute Beckley, when a staff member searched him and found a six-inch homemade knife, known as a "shank," hidden inside of his clothing.

Farooq faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on July 14, 2011.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John File is in charge of the prosecution.