[OG Kush]

Thomas Throckmorton tried to reassure his wife Monday afternoon as they sat in a federal courtroom, smiling at her, saying, "Don't cry. It'll be OK."

But nothing could stop the tears from flowing as U.S. District Judge Terrance McVerry sentenced Throckmorton, 61, of Economy, to more than seven years in federal prison after being convicted of having 233 pounds of marijuana shipped into Beaver County.

Throckmorton's defense attorney, Paul Boas of Pittsburgh, had begged McVerry to "impose justice with mercy," saying Throckmorton, who has health problems including diabetes, depression and heart disease, would suffer unnecessarily in prison.

"He's not going to be well," Boas said, adding that Throckmorton had been assaulted twice, once involving a head injury, while in the Allegheny County Jail as his federal court case proceeded over the past year.

Throckmorton, a former engineer within the steel industry, was the owner of Industrial Construction Enterprise in Ambridge, at the former borough building along Merchant Street.

Federal prosecutors said that on July 17, 2005, a truck registered to Throckmorton's business and driven by Robert Gailey was stopped in Missouri, and the marijuana was found inside.

Gailey testified that he was bringing the marijuana back to Beaver County on Throckmorton's behalf and that more shipments were pending.

According to court records, assistant U.S. Attorney Almon Burke said prosecutors thought there were more than 1,200 pounds of the drug involved in Throckmorton's operation.

Throckmorton's wife of 39 years, Nancy, pleaded with McVerry to be lenient on her husband. She said that as she was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, her husband was supportive, and he has also been a good father to their daughter, Julie Throckmorton-Meunier.

She showed the judge birthday and anniversary cards her husband sent her while in jail, and also showed a letter that had a drawing of a vacation he hoped the two could take.

"I would like to have time with him," Nancy Throckmorton said. "You blink your eyes, those 39 years are gone."

Throckmorton-Meunier tearfully told McVerry that her father worked three jobs when she was young, yet "he put every ounce of his attention with me."

She added that her father had a tough childhood, but that he never carried over those traits to her, saying, "He never abused me."

McVerry said that during sentencing, he had to take Throckmorton's prior criminal record into account, one in which he was convicted of simple assault after a confrontation with his brother, James, in Bell Acres in 2002.

In addition to seven years and three months in federal prison, McVerry ordered Throckmorton to five years' supervised release. He recommended Throckmorton be placed in a facility as close to Beaver County as possible, but where Throckmorton could receive the best medical care would take precedence.


Newshawk: SX420 - 420Girls.com
Source: 420Times.com
Pubdate: 08-15-2006
Author: Bill Vidonic
Copyright: 2006 Beaver County Times Allegheny Times
Contact: bvidonic@timesonline.com
Website: http://www.timesonline.com