Raleigh County Teenager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Theft Charge

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Raleigh County teenager who stole twenty-four firearms was sentenced to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Dillon Jackson, 19, of Beckley, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for stealing firearms from the premises of a person licensed to engage in the business of dealing in firearms.  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.

“Just days before committing this crime, Jackson turned 18 years old,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “As a result, he will be spending the first few years of young adulthood in a federal prison.  Tragic.”

At his plea hearing in May, 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. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Clint Carte handled the prosecution.  The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. 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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