Barbour County man sentenced for firearms charge

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Gregory Smith, of Philippi, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 37 months incarceration for possessing a stolen firearm, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Smith, age 54, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm” in June 2018. Smith admitted to having a stolen .22-caliber derringer in January 2018 in Barbour County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.