Two individuals from Wayne County were sentenced after pleading guilty to their involvement in the illegal removal of timber from public land. Ronald Lee Frye, 33, from Wayne, admitted to the unlawful destruction of timber and received a 90-day incarceration term. Eugene Luther Cochran, 36, of Genoa, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to remove timber from public lands, resulting in a sentence of 90 days of federal probation. Both Frye and Cochran were also directed to pay $1,465.29 in restitution.
The incident took place on November 8, 2023, when Frye and Cochran, accompanied by Jeff Allen Parsons, traveled to federal land in East Lynn. They unlawfully cut down a white oak tree and attempted to transport it using a pickup truck. While Frye acknowledged driving the truck, Cochran admitted their plan included removing additional illegally cut trees. Their activities were interrupted when employees of the United States Army Corps of Engineers spotted them, after which they attempted to flee.
Parsons, 28, from Genoa, had earlier pleaded guilty to the unlawful destruction of timber. On March 24, 2025, he received a 90-day incarceration term and was similarly ordered to pay $1,465.29 in restitution.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who praised the investigative efforts of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.
The hearings and sentencing were overseen by United States Magistrate Judge Joseph K. Reeder, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes and former Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds.
Further information and related court documents for these cases are accessible through PACER by searching Case Nos. 3:24-cr-161 for Frye and 3:25-cr-44 for Cochran.