Lincoln County Man Sentenced To 3 Years In Federal Prison For Illegal Firearm Possession

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Lincoln County man was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.   George Wayne Taylor, 56, of Hamlin, W.Va., admitted that on August 7, 2007, he was observed holding a shotgun at a relative’s residence located in Alkol, Lincoln County, W.Va.  Taylor further admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm, he stole metal roofing from the Lincoln County residence.  An individual present during the incident photographed the defendant in possession of the firearm.  Taylor also admitted firing the shotgun after being photographed. 

Law enforcement officers later recovered four stolen firearms and the stolen metal roofing from the defendant’s residence in Hamlin, W.Va.  

Taylor was previously convicted in March 1997 in Pike County Court in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, of theft by unlawful taking of $300 or more.  Taylor’s right to possess a firearm by August 8, 2007 had not been restored. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Assistant United States Attorney William King handled the prosecution.  The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.