Felon in Possession: Danville Man Faces 15 Years for Gun Crime

A West Virginia man has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries up to 15 years in prison.

Kevin Wayne Britton, 54, of Danville, pleaded guilty to the charge, which stems from a September 2023 incident in which he was found to be in possession of a Savage model 67F 12-gauge shotgun and a Hoban Manufacturing model 45 .22-caliber rifle in the South Charleston area.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Britton, a convicted felon, knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for obstruction of justice in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 15, 2012.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program brings together law enforcement and community members to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Britton is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in bringing the case to justice. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presided over the hearing, and Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case.