Felon In Possession Of 81 Firearms And Methamphetamine Pleads Guilty

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Belle man who possessed 81 firearms at his Simmons Creek Road residence pleaded guilty today to a federal firearm indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Dorsey Woolwine, Jr., 63, pleaded guilty in federal court in Charleston to being a felon in possession of firearms.

In March of 2012, police searched Woolwine’s home and property and seized 29 firearms including a sawed-off rifle.  A year later, another search warrant was executed at Woolwine’s residence.  This time, methamphetamine, scales, cash, and 52 additional firearms, including at least two stolen weapons, were discovered and seized.  Woolwine had been previously convicted in Kanawha County for unlawful wounding, which precluded him from possessing any firearm.  Woolwine faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 5, 2014.

Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution.