Man admits role in platinum theft

A former employee of the NGK Sparkplugs USA plant near Sissonville admitted in federal court today to a scheme to sell platinum he stole from the plant, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Samuel Olivio, 38, formerly of Elkview, pleaded guilty to mail fraud involving the extraction and sale of platinum contained in scrap parts he took from his former employer.

Olivio admitted he received more than $390,000 from the scheme. He also admitted to charging $19,000 to NGK for shipping the parts to the companies that extracted the platinum.

When he is sentenced on Oct. 9, Olivio faces 20 years in prison, three years' supervised release, a fine of twice the monetary loss he caused, and restitution to NGK, which would be not less than $750,000.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney R. Booth Goodwin II is handling the prosecution. U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. is presiding over the case.

Nitro man faces charge in Cross Lanes shooting

A Nitro man has been charged with shooting a Cross Lanes man on Tuesday.

James Lee Berry, 20, is charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment for the shooting of James Scott Legg, 29, during a fight Tuesday, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Legg was at an apartment on Greywood Road in Cross Lanes when Berry appeared in the parking lot. Legg walked out to see what Berry wanted. He heard the action work on a pistol and Legg believed he was going to be shot, according to the complaint.

Legg rushed Berry and grabbed the gun. As the two fought, the gun fired several times and one of the bullets hit Legg in the back of the right shoulder, the complaint said.

The shooting happened around 2 a.m., Kanawha Sheriff's Lt. Bryan Stover said at the time.

Legg might have fought with a man earlier Monday, Stover said.

Berry was released on a $5,000 bond. He has a preliminary hearing set for July 14, said Kanawha County Magistrate Ward Harshbarger.

A former employee of the NGK Sparkplugs USA plant near Sissonville admitted in federal court today to a scheme to sell platinum he stole from the plant, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Samuel Olivio, 38, formerly of Elkview, pleaded guilty to mail fraud involving the extraction and sale of platinum contained in scrap parts he took from his former employer.

Olivio admitted he received more than $390,000 from the scheme. He also admitted to charging $19,000 to NGK for shipping the parts to the companies that extracted the platinum.

When he is sentenced on Oct. 9, Olivio faces 20 years in prison, three years' supervised release, a fine of twice the monetary loss he caused, and restitution to NGK, which would be not less than $750,000.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney R. Booth Goodwin II is handling the prosecution. U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. is presiding over the case.

Nitro man faces charge in Cross Lanes shooting

A Nitro man has been charged with shooting a Cross Lanes man on Tuesday.

James Lee Berry, 20, is charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment for the shooting of James Scott Legg, 29, during a fight Tuesday, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Legg was at an apartment on Greywood Road in Cross Lanes when Berry appeared in the parking lot. Legg walked out to see what Berry wanted. He heard the action work on a pistol and Legg believed he was going to be shot, according to the complaint.

Legg rushed Berry and grabbed the gun. As the two fought, the gun fired several times and one of the bullets hit Legg in the back of the right shoulder, the complaint said.

The shooting happened around 2 a.m., Kanawha Sheriff's Lt. Bryan Stover said at the time.

Legg might have fought with a man earlier Monday, Stover said.

Berry was released on a $5,000 bond. He has a preliminary hearing set for July 14, said Kanawha County Magistrate Ward Harshbarger.