CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Two felons pled guilty to federal gun crimes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Both men pled guilty to being felons in possession of a firearm.
Kevin Washington, 49, of St. Albans, admitted that on Sept. 17, 2017, an officer with the St. Albans Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle he was operating. At the time of the stop, Washington possessed a 9mm Taurus pistol in the seatback pocket of the vehicle. Washington knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearms due to his 1993 burglary conviction in Virginia. He has not had his rights to possess firearms restored. Washington faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 22, 2020. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Albans Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.
David Moore, 40, of Beckley, admitted that on April 1, 2017, a Raleigh County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled him over near the Beckley by-pass. At the time of the stop, the officer saw a firearm in the back seat area of Moore’s car. Moore admitted to the deputy that he possessed the Sig Sauer P522,.22 caliber semi-automatic firearm found in the car. Moore further admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon and was not supposed to possess any firearms. Moore faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 13, 2020. The ATF and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is handling the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
