Michael Vernon Pinson Jr., a 30-year-old from Huntington, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was given due to his prior felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Cabell County Circuit Court on February 16, 2016, which made him ineligible to possess a firearm.
Court documents reveal that on February 20, 2024, law enforcement officers responding to reports of an unresponsive male found Pinson in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in Huntington. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a loaded Taurus model PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm pistol.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who acknowledged the efforts of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the investigation.
The case was presided over by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers, with Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handling the prosecution.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which collaborates with law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. It emphasizes fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention through community-based organizations, strategic enforcement, and measuring the outcomes effectively.
Further information and related documents can be accessed on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia or through PACER by referencing Case No. 3:24-cr-149.
