During a June 3 press conference in Clarksburg where U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld II announced the arrest of Bridgeport Mayor Mario Blount, he said at the time that additional arrests were pending in the matter. Following Blount’s pretrial hearing where he pleaded guilty to three felony drug counts on Sept. 12, Ihlenfeld said he’s not backing off of that statement.

 

“The investigation is still ongoing,” said Ihlenfeld. “You will hear from us again with regard to medical professionals connected to this case as well as other cases in the northern district of West Virginia, and I think you’ll hear from us pretty soon.”

 

The one thing Ihlenfeld emphasized what that the potential pending arrests aren’t necessarily tied together. In other words, if several come they may have nothing to do with one another, he said.

 

“There are a variety of cases that aren’t all connected. There might be some other connections that were made to this case (Sept. 12), and we’re working on them,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

During Blount’s hearing, there was testimony given by the commander of the Greater Harrison County Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force, who is also a member of the Bridgeport Police Department. The testimony did mention other doctors. The one doctor mentioned by name, a Dr. Peacock from and emergency room in Georgia, is not under investigation.

 

“He simply had his identity taken and other information taken so that prescriptions could be forged,” said Ihlenfeld. “There was another physician (not named) that was referenced during the (Sept. 12) testimony that we’re taking a long, hard look at to see where that may lead.”

 

As for whether that doctor was local, Ihlenfeld said he wasn’t “at liberty to answer.” He did add that there were “other medical professionals in this case that may be pulled in and other cases within our district involving medical professionals that we’re investigating that you’ll hear about pretty soon.”

 

Blount, a pharmacist, recently entered guilty pleas to the felony offenses of “Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II Controlled Substances”, “Distribution of Oxymorphone”, and “False or Fraudulent Material Omissions.”  Separately, he could face up to 44 years on the charges. If the sentences run concurrently, which is what the plea calls for, the maximum he could face is 20 years. Judge Irene Kelley will make the decision on that. She said the sentencing will likely take place in January of next year. Click HERE to read the story on the plea hearing.

 

Editor's Note: Shows is U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld - with Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker in the background - during a recent press conference. Photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.