Federal Inmates Appear in Court in Connection with Weapon Charges

BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today two federal inmates appeared in court in connection with possession of weapons.

“My team works closely with Bureau of Prisons staff to prosecute these cases,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “If these inmates want to add more federal prison time to their current sentences, then so be it.”

Coleman Ferrell, 31, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at Beckley, was sentenced to 12 months in prison to run consecutively with the sentence he is currently serving.  Ferrell pled guilty in April, admitting that on December 22, 2017, he possessed a piece of metal sharpened to a point on one end, a handcrafted weapon often called a “shank.”  A staff member found the weapon in Ferrell’s shoe during a search. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John File.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. 

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Tyler Romine, 27, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, pled guilty to possession of a weapon, admitting that on April 18, 2018, he had a weapon consisting of two combination locks attached to a belt.  Romine used the weapon to strike another inmate.  A staff member recovered the weapon after Romine obeyed an order to put it on the ground.  Romine faces up to five years for this offense, and the sentence will run consecutively to the sentence he is now serving.  His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 27, 2018.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John File.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided at the plea hearing.

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