1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A federal grand jury returned indictments charging two Wheeling area residents with unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today.
Convicted felon Melvin B. Neff, 56, of Wheeling, West Virginia, is charged with one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm" after he was discovered in possession of five rifles, two shotguns, and a pistol. Neff was previously convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County Pennsylvania for violating the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act.
Convicted felon Zachary M. Foster, 22, of Triadelphia, West Virginia, is charged with one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm" after he was discovered in possession of two revolvers. Foster was previously convicted in the Circuit Court of Ohio County, West Virginia of the felony offense of Attempted Burglary.
Neff and Foster each face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Vogrin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Wheeling Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are leading the investigations.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
