Wayne Co. Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearm

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal firearm possession, 52-year-old Wayne County resident Randy Price pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The grim tale unfolded on July 16, 2019, when a law enforcement officer stopped Price’s vehicle in Charleston. The defendant attempted to evade capture but was ultimately apprehended. During the incident, authorities seized a Raven Arms MP-25 .25-caliber pistol from the vehicle.

Price is not new to the justice system; his prior felony convictions for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on June 28, 2002, rendered him prohibited from owning or possessing firearms under federal law. Nevertheless, Price was aware of his illegal status when he continued to carry a firearm.

Scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025, the defendant faces a daunting sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The case is under the watchful eye of United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, with Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Negar M. Kordestani prosecuting.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the plea deal, commending the ATF and Charleston Police Department for their diligent investigative work. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through community engagement and strategic enforcement.

The press release can be accessed on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia, with related court documents available on PACER by searching Case No. 2:22-cr-97.

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