Cedar Grove Man Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Concealment Of A Firearm

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -  Reginald Bennett, 40, of Cedar Grove, West Virginia pleaded guilty today to unlawful concealment of a firearm announced United States Attorney Booth Goodwin.  In September of 2013, Bennett was stopped by the Charleston Police Department for a traffic violation.  During the stop, officers discovered  a .38 caliber Colt revolver in Bennett’s possession.  Bennett was prohibited from possessing any gun because of a prior felony conviction.  After his arrest and release, Bennett removed a Ruger M77 rifle from his home in Cedar Grove, and hid it in a home in South Charleston to prevent law enforcement officers from finding it.  The rifle was discovered when a federal search warrant was executed at the South Charleston residence. 

Bennett faces a maximum penalty of 20 in prison when he is sentenced on December 11, 2014.  As part of his plea, Bennett agreed to forfeit both the revolver and the rifle.

The United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States.