Two sentenced for unlawful possession of firearms

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Two individuals were sentenced in federal court in Wheeling today for unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Darrick D. Fleming, II, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, who has a previous felony conviction in state court in Ohio, was discovered in June 2015 in Ohio County, West Virginia in unlawful possession of a 9mm pistol. He was previously convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio of the felony offense of “Carrying a Concealed Weapon.” He pled guilty in November 2015 to one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.” He was sentenced today to 27 months in prison.

Eric Brandon Lemasters, 33, of Jacksonburg, West Virginia, who has a previous felony conviction in state court in Ohio, was discovered in July 2015 in unlawful possession of two rifles, a shotgun, and a pistol in Wetzel County, West Virginia. He was previously convicted of the felony offense of “Grand Theft” in the Court of Common Pleas of Lake County, Ohio. Lemasters pled guilty in February 2016 to one count of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm.” He was sentenced today to 24 months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted Fleming and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted Lemasters on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated both defendants. The Wheeling, West Virginia Police Department also investigated Fleming.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.