Adam Joseph Plauche, a 37-year-old from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, has admitted to selling a stolen firearm, a crime that crossed state lines and triggered federal prosecution. The guilty plea marks the culmination of a years-long investigation into illegal gun trafficking rooted in Jefferson County.
Plauche pled guilty to one count of “Possession and Sale of Stolen Firearm,” admitting he knowingly possessed a stolen firearm and arranged its shipment across state lines in September 2015. Federal authorities say the act violated multiple statutes governing the interstate transportation of stolen property, particularly weapons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, tracing the firearm’s path and building a case that linked Plauche directly to the illegal transaction. Prosecutors say the gun was not only stolen but moved with intent to distribute illegally, elevating the offense to a federal felony.
Plauche now faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. While the statutory maximum is severe, the actual sentence will be determined under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the seriousness of the offense and Plauche’s prior criminal history, if any.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Camilletti on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the plea hearing in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where Plauche formally entered his guilty plea in open court.
United States Attorney Bill Powell confirmed the admission, underscoring federal resolve to crack down on the illegal movement and sale of firearms in Appalachia. “When stolen guns enter our communities,” Powell said, “they fuel violence and undermine public safety. This conviction is a warning to those who traffic in illegal weapons.”
Related Federal Cases
- Man Admits to Possessing Stolen Firearm · West Virginia
- Gregory Scott Rinker Sentenced for Stolen Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Thomas Bennett Admits to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Cody Swick Admits to Illegal Firearm Possession in Grant County · West Virginia
- Desmon Johnson Admits to Illegal Firearm Possession · Maryland
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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