NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

John L. Brownlee
United States Attorney
Heidi Coy
Public Affairs Specialist BB&T Building
310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 857-2250
FAX (540) 857-2180

January 31, 2007

10 HAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES RELATED TO HENRY COUNTY RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that ten defendants have now pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement in a racketeering conspiracy and other offenses involving members of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
Four defendants, Kandy Hubbard Deshazo, Travis Wilkins, Ronald Trantham and James Keaton pleaded guilty pursuant to written plea agreements today in United States District Court in Roanoke.

James Keaton, age 36, of Collinsville, pleaded guilty to receiving a stolen firearm. The maximum penalty for this charge is ten years and a fine of $250,000.

Travis Wilkins, age 33, of Collinsville, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The maximum charge for this offense is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Kandy Deshazo, age 33, of Ridgeway, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a Federal Agency. The maximum charge for this offense is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Ronald Trantham, age 46, of Fieldale, pleaded guilty to racketeering and making false statements to a federal agent. Trantham faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $500,000.

According to evidence presented by Criminal Chief Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr., Trantham would receive cocaine and marijuana from James Vaught that was intended for further distribution. The cocaine and marijuana Trantham received from Vaught included drugs that were seized by Henry County Sheriff’s Deputies and were then taken from the evidence room.

In 2005, Mark Roberson obtained a rifle with an obliterated serial number on it. In an effort to get rid of the illegal firearm, Mark and Jonathan Roberson approached Travis Wilkins to trade the rifle. Wilkins traded for and took the rifle from the Robersons.
Kandy Deshazo was an employee of the United States Postal Service in Bassett, Virginia. Deshazo certified as correct three applications for William Reed to obtain post office boxes even though Deshazo knew the information on the application was false and that Reed was using the post office boxes to aid in the distribution of illegal drugs.
James Keaton, as the Captain of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, stole a rifle that he seized from a defendant.

Six others have already pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement in the conspiracy pursuant to written plea agreements. The defendants, and they charges they have pleaded guilty to are as follows:

Defendant  Age Pleaded Guilty To Date of Plea 
William Reed  35 Racketeering (Ct. 1) 11/27/2006
James Vaught 33 Racketeering (Ct. 1) 12/28/06
David King  49 Racketeering (Ct. 1) and Drug Conspiracy (Ct. 2) 12/28/06
Cornelia Cox 60 False Statements (Ct. 36) 1/26/07
Wilbert Brown 51  Racketeering (Ct. 1) and False Statements (Ct. 20) 1/29/07
Brad Martin 33 Racketeering (Ct. 1) and Drug Conspiracy (Ct. 2)  12/8/06

The following defendants are scheduled to enter guilty pleas on the indicated dates: Ginger Lewis (2/2/07); Walter Hairston (2/2/07); Mark Roberson (2/2/07); Steve Preston (2/26/07); and, Carlton Riley (3/6/07).

The case was investigated by the Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Bassford.