MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 40-year-old Pocahontas County man is facing federal charges for illegally possessing a firearm, a direct violation of U.S. law given his prior felony conviction. Archie Ray Arbogast of Dunmore, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Martinsburg on one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm,” announced United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.
Arbogast’s criminal history includes a federal felony conviction for “Possession of Material Use in the Manufacture of Methamphetamine” in the Northern District of West Virginia. That conviction alone bars him from legally possessing any firearm, a fact that didn’t stop him from allegedly being found with a .22 caliber rifle in Pendleton County, West Virginia, in May 2016.
The charge stems from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, and the West Virginia State Police. Authorities say the weapon was recovered during a targeted enforcement operation, though no further details have been released about the circumstances of the arrest.
Arbogast now faces up to ten years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will hinge on the seriousness of the offense and his prior criminal record — a record already stained with federal drug-related charges.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner. Federal prosecutors emphasize that an indictment is not a conviction, but law enforcement sources indicate they have physical evidence linking Arbogast directly to the firearm.
Arbogast remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A trial date has not yet been set. The case continues to be investigated by federal and state agencies working under the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Related Federal Cases
- Rollie C. Poynter Jr. Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · Kentucky
- Russell Cary Owens Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · North Carolina
- Mark A. Simmons Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Elkins Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Clarksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons