Wayne County Woman Sentenced For Lying And Buying Guns For A Prohibited Associate

Huntington, W.Va. – A Wayne County woman was sentenced yesterday, to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for her role in helping a convicted felon acquire five firearms from a Huntington pawn shop announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Brittany Amanda Hewlett, 25, previously pleaded guilty in May of 2014 to making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm.

On February 26, 2014, Hewlett and an associate went to a Huntington pawn shop to buy five guns.  Hewlett completed a federally required form, and claimed that she was buying the guns for herself when, in fact, the guns were for her associate.  Hewlett had previously agreed to buy the guns, understanding that they would be given to the associate who was legally prohibited from buying or possessing guns.  When Hewlett and the associate returned later to the pawn shop to finalize the gun purchase, an undercover federal agent was present and posed as the sales clerk.

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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.