Curtis Neal, Aiding & Abetting False Statement in Connection with Acquisition of Firearms, West Virginia 2020

A local man has admitted to his role in a firearms conspiracy that saw him and others obtain guns from a licensed dealer in Monongalia County in November 2019.

Curtis Neal, 44, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of Aiding and Abetting the False Statement in Connection with the Acquisition of Firearms, announced United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

Neal admitted to working with others to obtain several firearms from a licensed dealer in Monongalia County in November 2019.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, which investigated the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Aloi presided over the proceedings.

Neal is expected to be sentenced in the coming months. The exact date of sentencing has not been announced.

In related news, law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on firearms trafficking in the region, with several recent arrests and convictions. The efforts aim to reduce gun violence and prevent the illegal sale of firearms.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/morgantown-man-admits-firearms-conspiracy