By Jim Talbert

July 18, 2018 - Troubles continue to mount for a Virginia businessman.

Larry Wayne Price Jr., (aka “LJ’) 38, of Bluefield, is facing multiple federal felony indictments in two states. He was indicted on three counts of making false statements to the FBI by a grand jury in Abingdon May 22 and on six counts of wire fraud by a Billings Montana federal grand jury June 21.

The indictments in Montana were sealed until July 2 after an arrest warrant was executed for him.

The Montana indictments also contain forfeiture allegations against any real estate or personal property held by Price that it can be proven was purchased with proceeds from the crimes. The order would also allow the government to seize other property if assets derived from the alleged fraud could not be located, have been diminished in value, sold, or comingled with other property that cannot be divided.

The indictments from district court in Abingdon stem from an April incident in which Price claimed he was kidnapped and taken across the state line before being released. Price was reported missing by his wife on April 14 and a search ensued that came to involve local, state and federal officials.

Price was located later that day and made several statements regarding what had happened to him. Those statements allege he was abducted and robbed either by unknown subjects or members of the Pagans motorcycle gang.     

According to the affidavit, these statements of the defendant and other statements that he made to federal law enforcement agents were false because Price was, in fact, consensually with another person during the time period he claimed to be held against his will.

The Montana indictments accuse Price of defrauding Ninety-M, LLC a Wyoming coal company he was managing and Three Blind Mice LLC.  The charges claim Price took $13,500,000 from the owners of Ninety-M that was supposed to be used for real property, mining equipment and supplies and diverted it for his personal use.

The government claims that between July of 2017 and January of 2018 Price electronically transferred the money in sums ranging from $300,000 to $3,990,000 through banks in Montana, Texas and West Virginia.

The indictments involving Three Blind Mice cover a period between October of 2016 and January of 2018. The charges claim Price borrowed $7.5 million from Three Blind Mice claiming he was purchasing coal mining equipment.

The indictments claim Price electronically transferred the money in equal sums in October and November from a bank in Wyoming to a bank in Montana.  In a civil action Three Blind Mice took possession of a home Price owned in Billings earlier this year.

If convicted Price could face 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud charges. He was taken before a federal magistrate July 3 and arraigned with no bond set. 

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