Two Kanawha County Men Sentenced To Prison On Federal Gun Charges

Charleston, W.Va. – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that David Burgess, 27, and Jesse Burgess, 26, both of Charleston, West Virginia, were each sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. Both men were sentenced on federal gun charges in connection with the theft of firearms from two local businesses. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentences.

David Burgess previously admitted that he illegally possessed a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol on September 17, 2012, the day he stole the firearm from Pawn for Cash, a federally licensed firearms dealer in Charleston. David Burgess had previously been convicted of the felony offense of credit card forgery in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and his rights to possess a firearm had not been restored. Jesse Burgess previously admitted that he aided and abetted his brother in stealing the pistol from Pawn for Cash.  Jesse Burgess was also prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of breaking and entering in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and his rights to possess a firearm had not been restored. 

The investigation was conducted by the Charleston Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn 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 networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.