Marion County man indicted on drug and firearms charges

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James G. Moore, Jr., of Fairmont, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Clarksburg on January 8, 2019 on drug distribution and firearms charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Moore, age 41, was indicted on one count of “Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Moore is accused of having methamphetamine. Moore, who is prohibited from having a firearm, is also accused of having 9mm pistol. The crimes allegedly took place in February 2018 in Marion County. 

Moore faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug count, and faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms count. 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). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

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