Nathaniel Wilburn, 34, of Ghent, pleaded guilty on May 5 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wilburn admitted in court that he possessed multiple firearms at his residence after law enforcement executed a search warrant on October 30, 2024. Officers found a Hi-Point JCP .40-caliber pistol, a Charles Daily 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger EC9 9mm pistol, and a Taurus 12-gauge shotgun. Wilburn acknowledged he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction for breaking and entering in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 15, 2023.
Federal law bars individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Wilburn is scheduled for sentencing on September 4 and faces up to fifteen years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea agreement and said he commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the United States to enhance citizens' quality of life; it covers twenty-three counties across southern West Virginia with thirty-seven attorneys and forty other personnel employed by the office according to the official website.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America. The initiative aims to marshal resources from across the Department of Justice against illegal immigration as well as criminal organizations.
