Charleston, WV – A Charleston man has landed himself in hot water after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. Gregory D’Arquaes Zander, 35, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to the federal gun crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on March 11, 2024, on Interstate 77 North near the Kanawha County-Jackson County line. During the stop, officers found a rifle case in a blue truck containing six firearms, including a Smith & Wesson model M&P 10mm M2.0 10mm pistol, a Springfield Armory model DS Prodigy 9mm pistol, and a Glock model 17 Gen 4 9mm pistol. Investigators also found a wallet in the truck containing Zander’s state identification card and birth certificate, as well as receipts for the purchase of two of the firearms.
The receipts listed the driver of the truck as the purchaser, but the driver told investigators that Zander paid him to drive the truck to Michigan and directed him to place the rifle case in the vehicle earlier that day. The driver also admitted to purchasing several firearms for Zander at his direction and with money provided by Zander.
It was revealed that Zander had a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in Kanawha County Circuit Court on September 22, 2021. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Zander is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program focuses on fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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