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Press Release

Two defendants appear in federal court for gun crimes

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia
Charleston felon sentenced to over two years in prison; Fayette County felon faces up to 10 years in prison

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two defendants appeared in federal court today for gun crimes, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Lachance D. Woodson, 28, of Charleston, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In a separate prosecution, Denver Clifton Julious, 66, of Hilltop, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Woodson admitted that on December 22, 2015, he possessed a Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol in Charleston. Woodson was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2010 conviction in federal court in the Southern District of West Virginia for possession of a firearm after a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.

In a separate prosecution, Fayette County Deputy Sheriffs arrested Julious on May 6, 2016, at his home on an outstanding arrest warrant. During a search of Julious incident to the arrest, officers found a Davis Industries .22 caliber revolver in his pocket. Julious was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms as a result of a 1988 first-degree sexual assault conviction in Fayette County Circuit Court and a 2006 felon in possession of a firearm conviction in federal court in the Southern District of West Virginia. Julious faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on February 9, 2017.

The Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation of Woodson. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is responsible for Woodson’s prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed Woodson’s sentence.

The investigation of Julious was conducted by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution of Julious. The plea hearing for Julious was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by working with existing local programs that target gun crime.

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Updated November 17, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods