Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jalen O. Thomas, 27, of Beckley, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 27, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Beckley residence where Thomas was staying. During the search, officers seized a Smith & Wesson model SD9VE 9mm semiautomatic handgun, a loaded Glock model 17 Gen 5 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine capable of holding 40 rounds, and a Taurus .38-caliber revolver. Thomas admitted to possessing the seized firearms.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior conviction for felony fleeing in Cabell County Circuit Court on May 11, 2018.

The Court concluded that Thomas possessed firearms to facilitate drug trafficking. The Glock handgun seized on November 27, 2023, was found on a couch next to a package containing methamphetamine that was delivered to the Beckley residence as part of a controlled delivery shortly before officers executed the search warrant. Investigators intercepted the package before it was delivered, and found it contained over 400 grams of methamphetamine. Investigators removed most of the methamphetamine and replaced it with a sham substance before delivering the package to the residence.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-197.

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