Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A Bluefield man who was arrested after a drug and gun investigation earlier this year pled guilty today to two federal charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Tyquon Freeman, 21, entered guilty pleas to possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“Guns. Pot. A convicted felon,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Under federal law, convicted felons like Freeman are prohibited from possessing firearms.  Drug users are prohibited persons as well.  Drugs and guns don’t mix.”

Freeman admitted that on two separate dates in April, 2018, he sold marijuana to a confidential informant working with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.  On April 19, 2018, agents with the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at Freeman’s house in Bluefield, West Virginia, where the prior drug transactions had occurred.  When the agents entered the residence, they found approximately ten pounds of marijuana, some of which Freeman admitted he intended to distribute in exchange for money.  Officers also found three firearms which Freeman also admitted that he acquired one of the firearms protect his drugs and drug proceeds, even though he knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearms because he was a convicted felon.  Freeman further admitted that at the time he committed this offense, he was still on parole out of the state of Virginia.  Freeman was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2017 drug-related felony conviction in Tazewell County, Virginia.

Freeman now faces a sentence of up to five years in federal prison on the drug charge, to be followed by a consecutive sentence of five years up to life on the gun charge.  Freeman’s sentencing will be held on March 5, 2019.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews   

 
###