Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Gould, 48, of Ravenswood, pleaded guilty today to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 18, 2022, Gould possessed a Remington 11-87 12-gauge shotgun at his residence.

Federal law prohibits a prohibited person from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Gould was prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been involuntarily committed in Jackson County to a mental health facility on or about July 30, 2019.

Gould is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2024, 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 Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 2:22-cr-95. 

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