William S. Thompson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
Edgar Warren Willis Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Charleston, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This development follows a search conducted by law enforcement on February 27, 2024, at a residence on Red Oak Street where Willis was staying. During the search, officers discovered a Lorcin Engineering Model L380 .380-caliber pistol in a backpack located in a bedroom. Willis acknowledged his possession of the firearm.
Federal regulations prohibit individuals with prior felony convictions from owning firearms or ammunition. Willis had previous felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver heroin dated January 21, 2022, and charges related to wanton endangerment and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin from August 10, 2015. These offenses were adjudicated in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
Willis is set for sentencing on June 12, 2025. He faces up to 15 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a potential fine of $250,000.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston who praised the investigative efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside the Charleston Police Department-Street Crimes Unit.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin oversaw the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites various levels of law enforcement with communities to mitigate violent crime and gun violence while promoting neighborhood safety. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust-building, support for community-based violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities setting, and results measurement.
For more details regarding this case or related court documents, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia or search PACER using Case No. 2:24-cr-89.
