BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) – An Ohio man pleaded guilty in federal court on August 21 to crimes in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Jack Paskin, 34, of Nelsonville, Ohio, pleaded guilty to money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Court documents revealed that from approximately mid-summer 2019 through approximately August 31, 2020, Paskin facilitated the shipment of marijuana in wholesale quantities to Mullens, West Virginia.
Paskin admitted that the mailings were sent to addresses provided by co-defendant Merrick Rice, who pleaded guilty on May 7.
In addition, Paskin admitted that he knew that Rice was selling the marijuana to other people who were then distributing it throughout Southwest Virginia.
The money from Rice’s marijuana sales was deposited into bank accounts over which Paskin had sole or signatory authority.
Paskin withdrew $30,000 in cash from one of the bank accounts on February 24, 2021, knowing the amount came from marijuana sales.
Paskin is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to three years probation and a $250,000 fine.
Rice, 44, of Mullens, and Miranda Aliff, 32, of Rock Creek, both pleaded guilty on May 7, 2024, to conducting transactions with one or more domestic financial institutions. Rice and Aliff admitted to structuring bank deposits of proceeds from illegal drug trafficking totaling $228,000 to evade foreign currency transaction reporting requirements and are awaiting sentencing.
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