A St. Albans man, Dakota Zachary Williams, 24, has pled guilty to a federal firearms charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Williams pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon before Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
According to the investigation, on January 19, 2019, police stopped Williams for erratic driving in St. Albans. Williams told an officer that he was swerving because he was rolling a blunt while driving and that he had marijuana in his cup holder. Investigators searched his SUV and found a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat and marijuana.
Further investigation revealed that Williams was also carrying more marijuana, various pills, and around 3 grams of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. This was not Williams’ only run-in with the law, as he was again arrested on February 12, 2019, in the parking lot of Walmart in Nitro, where he had shoplifted an item.
On scene, investigators recovered another loaded pistol from Williams’ pocket and a box of ammunition. Williams had previously been convicted for felony wanton endangerment in 2016 and his right to possess a firearm was not restored. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on September 11, 2019.
Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is handling the prosecution. The case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The St. Albans Police Department, Nitro Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all contributed to the investigation.
The guilty plea is a significant step towards holding Williams accountable for his actions. The prosecution and investigation demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to reducing violent crime and keeping communities safe. As the case moves forward, the focus will be on ensuring that justice is served and that Williams is held accountable for his crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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