Wetzel County man indicted for firearms violations

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Martin Anderson, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, had his initial appearance in federal court today after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling this week for firearms violations, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Anderson, age 30, is charged with two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number.” Anderson, a person prohibited from having firearms, is accused of possessing a .9 mm caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, a .223 caliber rifle, and two .22 caliber rifles in Wetzel County in October 2017 and June 2018.

Anderson faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. 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.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.