Case of former WV soldier goes to jury

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By Andrea Lannom - email

An Elkins federal jury will now decide whether a former Parsons soldier and his alleged co-conspirator are guilty of what federal prosecutors describe as a bribery and money-laundering scheme.

The trial of former Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Allen Evick, 41, of Parsons, and his alleged associate, Crystal Yvette Martin, 48, of Pontiac, Mich., started June 18 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia in Elkins.

The case went to the jury June 22 and a verdict has not yet been filed online.

Federal prosecutors allege Evick received more than $170,000 in bribes from two firms that had contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense in Kuwait.

Martin is accused of laundering the bribe money and arranging transfers to the United States. Martin is a former Army master sergeant who operated a concession to sell clothing at American military bases in Kuwait, a news release from the Department of Justice stated.

The indictment also alleges Evick and former majors James Momon and Christopher Murray "improperly disclosed contracting information to two firms that were seeking contracts from the U.S. military," the news release stated.