Local auto dealer Joe Blackwell pleads guilty to one-count wire fraud

25-count federal indictment

Approximately a year after his arrest for alleged multiple federal crimes, longtime local auto dealer Joe Blackwell, age 70, pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2018, to one count – wire fraud – out of 25 counts listed in the federal grand jury indictment filed against him Dec. 19, 2017. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2019, in Federal Judge Randy Crane’s courtroom.

One count out of 25 might not sound so bad if there wasn’t this little legal caveat known as “Relevant Conduct,” which is serious in nature because it’s tied to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, AKA, how many years to which a defendant like Blackwell may be sentenced. In a nutshell, Relevant Conduct defines the scope of behavior that must be considered in every federal case (during the sentencing phase); and presumably the 25 counts listed in Blackwell’s federal indictment covers a wide scope of alleged criminality.

Initially, the longtime auto dealer was taken into federal custody last December and charged with 25 felony counts that included eight counts of mail fraud, 16 counts of wire fraud, and one count of bank fraud. After posting a $50,000 unsecured (un-collateralized) bond, Blackwell has remained free, awaiting his fate. His first trial date was set for last March, but the case has dragged on until Blackwell finally pleaded guilty to wire fraud Nov. 30. His legal counsel is District 40 State Representative Terry Canales.

Read the entire story on the e-Edition of our newspaper. http://www.etypeservices.com/Advance%20News%20JournalID455/