Weirton man sentenced for unlawful possession of firearms

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Northcraft, 42, of Weirton, West Virginia, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Northcraft was previously convicted in the Circuit Court of Hancock County, West Virginia of the felony offense of “Entering a Building Other than a Dwelling.” As a result of that conviction, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was discovered in possession of multiple firearms in December 2014, including three pistols, one revolver, two shotguns, and two rifles.

Northcraft pled guilty in March 2015 to one count of “Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Brooke County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.