Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Ampless Ray Lilly, 50, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 30, 2018, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Lilly in Hurricane. Lilly admitted to telling the officer that he had a gun and was a convicted felon. The officer found a Ruger 9mm pistol between the driver’s seat and center console.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Lilly knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree sexual assault in Lincoln County Circuit Court on January 22, 1993.

Lilly is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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. 3:23-cr-9. 

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