Raids in Fluvanna, Louisa yield 4 arrests in fraud

By Tasha Kates

Published: April 16, 2008

A yearlong criminal investigation in Fluvanna and Louisa counties resulted in raids early Wednesday that landed four people in federal court on wire fraud charges.
Authorities executed search warrants starting before sunrise at three homes in Fluvanna and two houses in Louisa, Fluvanna Sheriff Ryant L. Washington said.
“Property was seized, as well as narcotics and cash,” Washington said. “Individuals were arrested based on the investigation around the narcotics and property crimes.”
The suspects were charged under a multi-count indictment, which was not immediately available.
All four were charged in connection with a wire fraud scheme, according to U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Waugh Crigler. They face up to 20 years in prison and a $200,000 fine if convicted.
One of the four, a 39-year-old man, also was charged with conspiracy to possess five or more kilos of cocaine and 50 or more grams of crack cocaine, Crigler said. The 39-year-old will face a minimum of life in prison without parole if convicted. He also was charged with multiple counts of crack cocaine distribution, Crigler said. The man faces 10 years to life on each count and a substantial fine if convicted.
The suspects were named during a court hearing Wednesday, but The Daily Progress was unable to verify the names using court documents.
All four suspects requested a court-appointed attorney, but one man was deemed ineligible under the court’s financial guidelines.
Crigler said all four defendants are scheduled to return to court today.
Maj. Donnie Lowe, of the Louisa Sheriff’s Office, said local law enforcement officials have known the four people arrested for a while.
“We’ve been dealing with these people for 20 years,” Lowe said.
“A couple are siblings of family members we had encountered in the early ’90s,” Washington said. “It’s a circle of activity with these people.”
Washington said neighbors near two of the searched Fluvanna residences, 60 and 88 Ruby Lane, had been reporting suspicious activity to police for a while.
“Sometimes the public calls us and feels they’re not getting results,” Washington said. “It may be time consuming and we can’t reveal if we’re working on something, but the process works.”
Washington said the investigation is continuing and more arrests may be forthcoming. Authorities are waiting until Monday to release more details, Washington said, because of the complexity of the case and because of scheduling conflicts among the agencies.