Randolph County man pleads guilty to illegally possessing a gun

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA –Jason Randall Howard, 38, of Elkins, West Virginia, was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.

Howard, having previously been convicted in Randolph County of Domestic Battery, admitted to possessing a 9mm pistol in Randolph County in August 2016.

Howard pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” He faces up to ten 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 D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.