Charleston felon pleads guilty to second federal gun crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Charleston man pleaded guilty today to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Markus Davis, 39, entered his guilty plea to a single-count indictment charging him with illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.

Davis was pulled over on Virginia Street in Charleston on February 22, 2017. During the traffic stop, officers with the Charleston Police Department found a stolen, loaded Taurus handgun in his pants. Davis was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of previous felony convictions. Additionally, this is the second federal gun conviction for Davis. He was convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2011 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He was also convicted of first degree robbery in 2004 in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

Davis faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 1, 2017.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Haley Bunn is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

• Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews