Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Mark Bolling, 55, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of a firearm silencer.

A federal jury convicted Bolling of the charges on February 16, 2023, following a three-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that on September 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer in Fayette County conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bolling and recovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, a pistol magazine containing .45-caliber ammunition, and $7,000 from the vehicle.

On September 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bolling’s property on Keystone Drive in Charleston and seized a Rock River Arms, model LAR-15, 5.56mm rifle, a Bryco Arms, model 38, .380-caliber pistol, and a Gemtech, Model HALO, 5.56mm silencer.

The silencer was not registered to Bolling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bolling was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions including possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine on September 30, 2019, and transferring and receiving stolen property on September 24, 2018, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

Bolling’s long criminal history also includes prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, domestic battery, two separate violations of protective orders, battery of an officer, possession of a controlled substance, first-degree burglary and vehicle theft.

“This defendant has persistently committed felonies throughout the majority of his adult life, and his continuing involvement in criminal activity and his possession of firearms pose a risk to public safety,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville Police Department for their excellent work in this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrch and Steve Loew and our trial team for securing guilty verdicts on five counts in this case.”

Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence.

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. 2:21-cr-87.

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