Parole, restitution, fine ordered in puppy case
One of three African nationals charged in a nationwide online puppy scheme was paroled during sentencing in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Lawrence N. Tchakounte, 27, was immediately paroled on time served after being sentenced by county Judge Timothy McCune to nine to 18 months in Butler County Prison.
However, he will not be released to the street. Tchakounte continues to be held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, according to his attorney, Public Defender Charles Nedz.
He was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, court costs and $2,421 in restitution.
Tchakounte previously pleaded guilty to felony corrupt organizations on Oct. 18, after being charged alongside two others — Lawrence N. Francis, 27, and Emmenuel Nkwate, 32 — with felony operating a corrupt organization, theft by deception, conspiracy counts to both, theft, receiving stolen property, forgery and criminal use of a communication device.
The defendants, all natives of Cameroon, lived in Slippery Rock Township at the time while Francis and Tchakounte attended Slippery Rock University.
A full report appears in the Butler Eagle.
