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Coleman: Bowling Green's First Fully-Staffed Federal Prosecutors Office Bearing Fruit

Lisa Autry

One of the state’s top federal prosecutors says promises made to better protect residents of south-central Kentucky from crime are being kept.

Two full-time U.S. attorneys began working out of the federal courthouse in February.  Since then, the work of that office has resulted in 30 indictments in cases related to firearms, narcotics, and fraud.

Russell Coleman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, said during a news conference in Bowling Green on Monday that two of those 30 cases involved child exploitation.

"We’ve seen as kids are at home, as kids are spending more and more time on screens, as kids spend more and more time without teachers and parents to look over their shoulder, we’re seeing an increase in use of this as a tool to get into our homes," Coleman said.

Mark Allen Johnson, 30, of Rockfield in Warren County is charged in a three-count indictment with distribution of child pornography, attempted enticement, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.  If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison.

In another case, Dusty Westmoreland, 30, of Summershade, has been charged with robbery after he allegedly stole a truck and dragged the vehicle's owner at Mammoth Cave National Park.

A Canadian man, Charles Joesch, 33, is under indictment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He allegedly contacted residents in Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida and told them their loved ones had been arrested. The victims were told to send money to secure their release. The victims, including at least one from Bowling Green, lost more than $300,000. 

The federal prosecutor’s office currently has 20 investigations ongoing in partnership with state and local law enforcement.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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