Summary

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Roehm, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge James A. Kuiken, of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region announced today that Russell Lee Ebersole, age 43, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was indicted yesterday by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Ebersole was charged in a six-count indictment with tampering with witnesses, wire fraud, causing explosives to be transported in air transportation in violation of the law, and making false statements to ATF. If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,500,000. Ebersole is the president and director of Detector Dogs Against Drugs and Explosives as well as the owner of Aberdeen Acres Pet Care Center (known also as Aberdeen Acres Training Facility, Aberdeen Acres Professional Pet Care Center, and Aberdeen Acres Canine Training Academy). These companies are located in Stephenson, Virginia. Mr. Ebersole presently faces other federal charges in the Eastern District of Virginia and a state charge in Richmond.

The investigation of the case was jointly conducted by agents of ATF and USDOT OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Healey will prosecute the case. For further information, please contact AUSA Healey, at (434)293-4283.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.