Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2002
Source: Dispatch, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002, The Lexington Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.the-dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1583
Author: William Keesler

FORMER SHERIFF'S DEPUTY GETS PRISON TERM

WINSTON-SALEM -- A former narcotics officer with the Davidson County 
Sheriff's Office received a 27-year prison sentence in U.S. District Court 
this morning for drug distribution and other criminal charges.

One other law enforcement officer and a civilian involved in the 
distribution operation were also sentenced. Two other law enforcement 
officers and another civilian were to be sentenced later.

U.S. District Judge William Osteen sentenced Scott Woodall, 35, former head 
of the drug and vice investigations unit for the sheriff's office and the 
alleged "ringleader" of the distribution operation, to 27 years in prison. 
He will serve two 240-month sentences concurrently followed by an 84-month 
sentence.

Chris Shetley, 41, a former Archdale police sergeant who previously worked 
for the Thomasville Police Department, received a 34-month sentence.

Marco Aurelio Acosta-Soza, 26, a Lexington resident described in court 
papers as an undercover informant for Woodall, received a 79-month 
sentence. When he completes it, he must report to the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service for possible deportation. He also received five 
years of supervised release after his active sentence, and must reside 
outside the United States. He has to get permission from the U.S. Attorney 
General to ever return to the United States.

Still to be sentenced were Doug Westmoreland, 50, a former lieutenant with 
the drug and vice unit, Sgt. Billy Rankin, 33, and Wyatt Kepley, 26, a 
major steroids dealer and the son of Davidson County Commissioner Billy Joe 
Kepley.

After a probe by the FBI and the State Bureau of Investigation, a federal 
grand jury indicted the six men last December for conspiring to distribute 
cocaine, marijuana, steroids and Ecstasy.

Superseding indictments and court affidavits accused the law enforcement 
officers of abusing their authority in a host of ways, including writing 
fake search warrants, planting evidence and fabricating charges, keeping 
drugs and money seized during arrests, attempting to extort more money from 
the people arrested and intimidating suspects and potential witnesses.

Since then, state and federal courts have dismissed charges or sentences 
against more than 30 defendants investigated by the narcotics officers. One 
defendant whose charges were dropped has filed a federal civil lawsuit 
against Sheriff Gerald Hege, two deputies and the county.

All six defendants pleaded guilty in March to some of the charges against them.

The charges were based in large part on information provided by another law 
enforcement officer, former Thomasville police Sgt. Rusty McHenry, 33, 
after he was arrested in Greensboro last November on charges of possession 
with intent to distribute cocaine, Ecstasy and marijuana.

U.S. District Judge N. Carlton Tilley Jr., praising McHenry's cooperation, 
sentenced him last month to just 25 months in prison.

Three other people, including two Lexington-area residents, have pleaded 
guilty to drug charges in connection with the same investigation.

Elizabeth Ann Harward, 25, a girlfriend of Wyatt Kepley; Jonathan Apt, 29, 
another friend of Kepley; and Chad Douglas Wilson, 22, of Franklinville in 
Randolph County, all await sentencing next month.
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