Two Maryland men and a Virginia man sentenced for firearms charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Maryland men and a Virginia man have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy involving the sale and transfer of firearms, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Thorn Ashton Guessford, age 26, of Federalsburg, Maryland, was sentenced today to three years probation. Stephen Clark Krieger, age 67, also of Federalsburg, Maryland, was sentenced today to 24 months incarceration. Each pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy” in April 2018. They admitted to being a part of a conspiracy to transfer and sell firearms across state lines from May until July 2017 in Berkeley County, West Virginia and elsewhere.

Glenn Eugene Oden, age 39, of Stephens City, Virginia, was sentenced today to six months incarceration. Oden pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” in March 2018. Oden, having a prior conviction, admitted to illegally possessing a .40 caliber pistol in May 2017 in Berkeley County.

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 prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.