Rollie C. Poynter Jr. Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession

Rollie C. Poynter, Jr., 50, of Grafton, West Virginia, was indicted Wednesday on federal charges for illegally possessing a firearm — a .38 caliber revolver — in Taylor County, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Clarksburg, West Virginia, charges Poynter with one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” The charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Prosecutors stress that the actual sentence, if convicted, will hinge on the severity of the offense and Poynter’s extensive prior felony record.

Poynter has prior felony convictions in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky — convictions that legally barred him from possessing any firearm under federal law. The .38 revolver was allegedly found during an investigation that involved multiple law enforcement agencies working in tandem across county lines.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case for the federal government. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with support from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Grafton City Police Department — a tri-agency push underscoring the seriousness of armed felons circulating in rural jurisdictions.

Federal authorities have repeatedly targeted illegal gun possession in Appalachia, where firearms trafficking and repeat offenders often strain local law enforcement. Poynter’s case is the latest in a string of federal weapons prosecutions aimed at disrupting access to guns by convicted felons.

An indictment is not a conviction. Rollie C. Poynter, Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. His initial court appearance is scheduled for next week in Clarksburg federal court.