Raleigh County Teenager Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Theft Charge

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County teenager who stole twenty-four firearms from a federally licensed dealer pled guilty today to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Dillon Jackson, 18, entered his guilty plea to stealing firearms from the premises of a person licensed to engage in the business of dealing in firearms.  U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.

“Stealing firearms to trade them for drugs guarantees the guns are being put in the wrong hands for the purpose of criminal activity,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We are aggressively prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”

Jackson admitted that in the early morning hours of July 11, 2017, he and an accomplice, used a crow bar to break the glass door of a federally licensed firearm dealer near Fairdale, West Virginia.  Jackson admitted to entering the store with the accomplice and stealing pistols and rifles that were in the inventory of the licensed dealer.  In total, Jackson and the accomplice stole twenty-four guns. Jackson further admitted to trading the stolen guns for money and drugs.  At least one of the firearms stolen was capable of receiving a high capacity magazine. 

Jackson faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 22, 2018.  Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Clint Carte are responsible for the prosecution.  The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Irene Berger.  

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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