CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Cross Lanes man was sentenced today to three and a half years in federal prison for a gun charge, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Tristen Paxton, 21, previously pleaded guilty to possessing firearms after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Paxton admitted that on March 27, 2017, during a traffic stop conducted by the Sheriff’s Tactical Operations Patrol (STOP) Team of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, he possessed two firearms in the vehicle. Law enforcement recovered a loaded Taurus Judge.45 caliber/410 gauge handgun from the passenger seat and a Poly Technologies AK-47 rifle with a loaded high capacity magazine in the trunk. As part of his plea agreement, Paxton also admitted that he was responsible for selling two other firearms and methamphetamine.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department’s STOP Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
* Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
