Skip to main content
Press Release

Mingo County man pleads guilty to lying on form when purchasing a firearm

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that Gene Autry Brinager, Jr., 52, of Delbarton, Mingo County, West Virginia pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charleston to lying on a form when  purchasing a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In April of 2010, Brinager purchased two firearms from Williamson Gun and Archery, a federally licensed firearms dealer in Williamson, and he filled out a Department of Justice form required for anyone who purchases a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. On that form, Brinager falsely stated that he was not an unlawful user of, or addicted to a depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance. At the time he filled out the form, Brinager knew that he was an unlawful user of and addicted to opiate pills, a controlled substance and a narcotic. Brinager faces up to five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 4, 2016.

This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police. The prosecution is 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.   

Updated November 3, 2015

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods