Eastern Panhandle man indicted on firearms charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Raymond Hoak, of Kearnysville, West Virginia, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Hoak, age 42, is charged with one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Hoak, having previously been convicted of a felony, is accused of having five .22-caliber rifles, a .22-250 rifle, a .300-caliber rifle, a .380-caliber pistol, and another rifle in June 2018 in Jefferson County.

Hoak faces up to 10 years incarceration 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.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski 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.