Raymond Hoak, Firearms Possession, WV 2018

Raymond Hoak, 42, of Kearnysville, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 41 months for illegally possessing a cache of firearms. The conviction stems from a June 2018 discovery in Jefferson County, where authorities found Hoak in possession of five .22-caliber rifles, a .22-250 rifle, a .300-caliber rifle, a .380-caliber pistol, and an additional rifle—each one off-limits due to his prior felony conviction.

Hoak pleaded guilty in November 2018 to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,” a charge that carries stiff penalties for felons caught with weapons. Federal law bars individuals with felony convictions from owning or handling firearms, a rule designed to curb violent recidivism. Hoak’s stockpile, investigators say, wasn’t for sport—it was a violation of public safety protocols meant to protect communities.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, zeroing in on Hoak through intelligence tied to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN, the Department of Justice’s flagship violent crime reduction initiative, targets high-risk offenders through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement. The program uses data-driven strategies to dismantle networks of violence before they escalate.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case, arguing that Hoak’s possession of multiple rifles and a handgun posed a clear threat. The government emphasized that felons with access to weapons increase the likelihood of armed conflict, theft, or escalation during criminal encounters. With five .22 rifles alone, prosecutors noted, Hoak had the means to arm others or fuel a black-market supply chain.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey handed down the 41-month sentence, underscoring the seriousness of illegal firearm hoarding by convicted felons. The ruling reflects a broader federal push to hold repeat offenders accountable, particularly in rural zones where gun culture intersects with criminal vulnerability. No plea bargains or leniency swayed the court—Hoak will serve every month behind bars.

This case, part of the ongoing PSN campaign in West Virginia, signals federal resolve in cracking down on illegal weapons流通. Authorities stress that possession isn’t victimless: guns in the wrong hands fuel robberies, assaults, and homicides. As federal agents continue sweeps across the Eastern Panhandle, more charges could follow for those playing fast and loose with deadly firepower.