Project Guardian Update: Seven Felons Appear in Federal Court for Gun Crimes

CHARLESTON,  W.Va. -- Defendants in seven separate Project Guardian cases appeared in federal court this week, according to United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

Kevin Lee Ramsey, 30, of Parkersburg, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ramsey admitted that he possessed a loaded Heckler & Koch 9mm compact semi-automatic pistol within a vehicle in which he was riding as a passenger on August 15, 2019.  On that date, the vehicle was stopped by officers with the Parkersburg Police Department near the intersection of 7th Street and Swann Street in the city of Parkersburg.  Pursuant to that traffic stop, officers searched the vehicle and discovered the firearm in the glove box directly in front of where Ramsey was seated. At the time that Ramsey possessed this firearm, he knew that he had been previously convicted of the offense of delivery of heroin in Wood County Circuit Court in July of 2015, and was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. He faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on September 9, 2020 in Charleston. The Parkersburg Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.

Anthony Smith, 44, of Wayne County, was sentenced to 33 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He previously admitted that on April 8, 2019, troopers with the West Virginia State Police searched his vehicle in the parking lot of the Speedway gas station on 5th Street Road in Huntington. Troopers located a loaded sawed off shotgun in the vehicle. Smith admitted the gun was his. Smith was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law because of a 2005 conviction for the felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Davidson County, Tennessee. The West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor prosecuted the case.

Ricky Nelson, 32, of Logan County, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nelson previously admitted that on April 30, 2018, he possessed a RG Model 23, .22 in Boone County. While in his possession, the gun fired, shooting another person. His possession of the firearm was illegal due to his having been convicted in the Circuit Court of Logan County for robbery in the first degree. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Arthur handled the prosecution.

David Walker, Jr., 45, of Huntington, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Walker previously admitted that while on parole, he possessed two firearms. He is prohibited from possessing firearms because he was convicted in 2018 of the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances in Cabell County. The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Division of Corrections Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handled the prosecution.

Jonathan Felts, 31, of Greenbrier County, was sentenced to 50 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Felts previously admitted that on August 16, 2018, he was a passenger in a motor vehicle driving on Route 20 in Summers County. The vehicle was stopped because the registration plates were not visible. The deputy sheriff smelled burned marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy had each occupant exit the vehicle. In Felts’ backpack, deputies located a Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber six round magazine, numerous empty baggies used in the distribution of controlled substances, a blue digital scale, and approximately three grams of a white crystal substance. Upon further search of the vehicle, deputies located a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol under the passenger seat and a Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber pistol stuffed underneath the cushion of the back seat. The Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber six round magazine that was located in a lock box found in Felts’ red backpack fit the Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber pistol. Felts’ prior felony convictions included delivery of oxymorphone and burglary in Greenbrier County. The Summers County Sheriff’s Department, the Summers County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott handled the prosecution.

David Moore, 40, of Beckley, was sentenced to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Moore previously admitted that on April 1, 2017, a Raleigh County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled him over near the Beckley bypass. At the time of the stop, the officer saw a firearm in the back seat area of Moore’s car. Moore admitted to the deputy that he possessed the Sig Sauer P522, .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm found in the car. Moore further admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess a firearm because he had been convicted of a felony in 2003 in Raleigh County Circuit Court for delivery of a controlled substance. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.

Richard Spinks, 40, of Richwood, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a term of three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Spinks previously admitted that he was in possession of a firearm on June 22, 2019, despite his knowledge that he was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms due to a 2010 felony conviction in Nicholas County Circuit Court for forgery. Spinks was witnessed carrying a Savage .22 caliber rifle into the home of another individual in Richwood by a sergeant with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department. When officers arrived at the residence to investigate, they encountered Spinks and two other individuals, who both gave statements indicating that Spinks carried the weapon into the residence. The firearm was seized, and Spinks was then placed under arrest. The Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Tessman handled the prosecution.

The 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 (ATF) 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 these cases with support from the Project Guardian partners listed above.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews and USAttyStuart

###