Morgantown man admits to firearms violation

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christian Stevens, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
 
Stevens, age 27, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting a False Statement During Purchase of Firearms.” Stevens admitted to conspiring with another to illegally purchase two pistols from a firearms dealer in December 2016 in Monongalia County.

Stevens 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting 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). 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.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.