SC woman sentenced for lying to FBI in kidnap case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Federal authorities say a woman has been sentenced to three months in prison for lying to the FBI during a kidnapping investigation.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Thursday that 24-year-old Chason Renee Chase also received three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to making false statements to federal agents in the kidnapping of Frank Janssen of Raleigh last April. Janssen is the father of a North Carolina prosecutor.

Chase pleaded guilty in August.

Prosecutors say Janssen’s kidnapping was directed by Kenneth Melton, a high-ranking Bloods street gang member serving a life sentence in a North Carolina prison.

Authorities say Chase lied about knowing and communicating with Melton on a cellphone hidden in his jail cell. Janssen was rescued by the FBI from an Atlanta apartment.