Berkeley County man arraigned on firearms charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Detrick Lee Foston, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was arrested today after being indicted by a federal grand jury on firearms charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Foston, 24, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy,” two counts of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearms,” one count of “Transfer of Firearm to Out-of-State Resident,” one count of and one count of “False Statement During Purchase of Firearm.” 

Foston is accused of working with another defendant charged in the indictment, Marquise Hicks, to illegally purchase and transfer firearms from March 2020 to June 2020 in Berkeley County and elsewhere.

Hicks, age 26, was indicted on one count of “Conspiracy” and one count of “Illegal Transportation or Receipt in State of Residency of Firearm Purchased or Acquired Outside of State of Residency.”

Fotson and Hicks each face up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy charge. Fotson faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the false statement charges and faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the transfer charge. Hicks faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the illegal transportation charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.