Oak Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge

BECKLEY, W.Va. – United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that an Oak Hill man pled guilty to a gun charge in federal court in Beckley.  Jordan Goard, 27, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Stuart applauded the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshal Service CUFFED Task Force. 

“Law-abiding citizens with guns is a right I’ll fight for but felons with guns are a danger to our law enforcement officers and the public,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   “That’s why we are committed to prosecuting as many of these cases as law enforcement can bring us.” 

He admitted that on February 2, 2017, after a foot pursuit in Beckley, law enforcement agents apprehended him and found that he was carrying a pistol.  At that time he was prohibited from possessing a firearm by virtue of two felony convictions in Fayette County in 2014—one for delivery of heroin and one for possession with intent to deliver marijuana.  Goard faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 1, 2018.

Assistant United States Attorney John File is prosecuting the case.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided at the plea hearing.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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