West Virginia Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a Gun and Ammunition

PITTSBURGH - A resident of West Virginia has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on March 21 and unsealed today, named Joseph Albert Cummins, 24, of Elkins, West Virginia.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about November 17, 2017, Cummins, a convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania State Police, and Ross Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.