Two men from Oak Hill, Fayette County, pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in Charleston, West Virginia. Lesley Scott Watkins, 50, and Jawuan Akil Watts, 31, admitted to being felons in possession of firearms.
Court documents show that on July 5, 2024, Watkins had an HS Product model XD-S .45-caliber pistol and a Sig Sauer model P220 .45-caliber pistol. The following day, Watts possessed a Heritage Manufacturing model Rough Rider .22-caliber revolver and a Colt model Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver. Both incidents occurred in Fayette County.
Federal law bars individuals with felony convictions from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Watkins was previously convicted for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on September 24, 2008. Watts had been convicted of burglary in Raleigh County Circuit Court on July 11, 2014.
Both men are scheduled for sentencing on December 4, 2025. They each face up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the pleas and acknowledged the investigative efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and D. Keith Randolph are prosecuting these cases.
“These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).”
Additional information about these cases can be found by searching Case Nos. 2:25-cr-92 (Watkins) and 2:25-cr-93 (Watts) on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..
