Hurricane man sentenced to federal prison for obstruction of justice

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Hurricane man who threw guns from his car during a traffic stop on I-64 was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin.  John Anthony Roberts, 47, plead guilty May of 2015 in federal court in Huntington to obstruction of justice. 

On July 20, 2014, Roberts was traveling on I-64 in Barboursville when a West Virginia State Trooper attempted to stop of his vehicle.  Roberts refused to stop and attempted to evade the Trooper.  While fleeing from the Trooper, Roberts threw two guns from his moving vehicle.  During his guilty plea, Roberts admitted that he threw the guns from his car in an attempt to hide them because he was aware that he was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams handled the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by working with existing local programs that target gun crime.