Felons Appear in Federal Court for Gun Crimes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced that two felons appeared in federal court this week for gun crimes. 

Patrick Napier, 48, of Logan, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a gun. Napier previously admitted that in July 2017 he possessed a Hi-Point, Model 4095, .40 caliber rifle. At that time, Napier was serving a federal term of supervised release.  A probation officer found the gun in Napier’s room when visiting his residence as part of his supervised release.  Napier has a prior felony drug conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, which prohibits him from possessing firearms.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.  Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Chris Arthur handled the prosecution.

Lenville Jason Porter, 36, of Lincoln County, pled guilty to the felony offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.   He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2021, where he faces up to 10 years of federal incarceration, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  In his plea hearing, Porter admitted that on October 18, 2018, he was removing engine parts from a car when he was seen by Lt. Napier of the West Hamlin Police Department.  Suspicious that he was observing Porter commit theft, Lt. Napier investigated and asked if he could pat Porter down for officer safety.  Prior to the pat down search, Porter admitted he had a gun. Lt. Napier physically recovered a Phoenix Arms .22 pistol from the defendant’s pocket.  The gun was loaded and capable of shooting.  A records check revealed that Porter was convicted in 2013 of two prior felony offenses in Lincoln County:  third degree arson and destruction of a public utility. Porter had neither been pardoned nor had his civil right to possess a firearm restored.  Additional records checks of the firearm by the ATF confirmed the gun had traveled in interstate commerce.  The ATF also confirmed the functionality of the firearm. Stuart commended the investigative work of the West Hamlin Police Department, notably Lt. J. J. Napier, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the ATF, who assisted the West Hamlin Police Department with the trace and testing of the firearm. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the plea hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution.

These cases are part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office has prosecuted this case with support from the Project Guardian partners referenced above. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.  

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 Nos. 2:20-cr-00065 (Napier) and 2:20-cr-00120 (Porter).

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