John Austin Perkins, III, a 45-year-old resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for fabricating evidence during a federal investigation. The sentencing took place in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Court documents reveal that Perkins was already serving time for a parole violation in Maryland. In an attempt to secure early release, he falsely informed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) of a fabricated plan. Perkins drafted three letters impersonating a former cellmate who was facing firearm charges. These letters falsely claimed that his cellmate intended to escape prison and murder an ATF agent.
The intended outcome of this ruse was to gain favor with federal agents, potentially securing Perkins' early release. His criminal record includes previous convictions for theft, drug trafficking, and battery.
Following his prison term, Perkins will undergo three years of supervised release. The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney, with U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh overseeing the case.