William S. Thompson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
Tristian Gerrell-Robert Murphy, a 36-year-old from Detroit, Michigan, has been sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence comes after Murphy was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case details reveal that on June 10, 2024, law enforcement officers stopped Murphy's vehicle in St. Albans. During the stop, Murphy admitted to having a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380-caliber pistol under the driver’s seat and a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol in the trunk. Additionally, officers discovered a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm pistol in the glove box.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Murphy was aware of this restriction due to his previous conviction for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in October 2021 at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. This earlier conviction involved his participation in a nationwide crime ring responsible for multiple "smash and grab" robberies targeting jewelry stores across the U.S., including one incident where an employee was assaulted during a robbery.
At the time of his arrest for the current offense, Murphy was already serving supervised release related to his previous conviction.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing and praised both the St. Albans Police Department's investigation and support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger with Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuting.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN emphasizes building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and measuring outcomes.
Further information can be accessed via PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-101 or visiting the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia website.
