Paul Jeremiah Buckner, 38, of Oak Hill, was sentenced on April 24 to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address gun crimes involving individuals with prior felony convictions. Such prosecutions are intended to enhance public safety and uphold the law.
According to court documents, Buckner was found with a Taurus TPC .380-caliber pistol during an October 7, 2024 traffic stop in Glade Creek. Buckner admitted that he knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm due to his previous felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on January 14, 2014.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the sentence and recognized the investigative work conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Park Service. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources "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." A copy of this press release is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia improves communities and upholds justice through enforcement of federal laws according to its official website. The office operates under the United States Department of Justice according to its official website and covers 23 counties in southern West Virginia according to its official website. It employs 37 attorneys and 40 other personnel according to its official website, prosecuting federal crimes as well as handling civil cases on behalf of citizens' quality of life according to its official website. The office also collects government debts and protects public interests across its district according to its official website.
