Brooke County, WV man charged with unlawful possession of firearms

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Frank Boatrite, 42, of Follansbee, West Virginia, with unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Boatrite was previously convicted of the felony offenses of “Burglary” in the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County, Ohio, and “Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell” in the District Court of Clark County, Nevada. As a result of these convictions, he is prohibited form possessing a firearm. He was discovered in April 2015 in possession of a .25 caliber pistol and a .22 caliber revolver.

Boatrite is charged with one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.” He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Hancock, Brooke, Weirton Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, is investigating.
 
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.