Danny Merriweather, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia 2021

Danny Merriweather, 35, Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Danny Merriweather, also known as ‘D,’ pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in a West Virginia court. The 35-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, faces severe penalties for his crime.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a 10th Avenue residence on April 5, 2021, where Merriweather was living. Seized during the search were a Smith & Wesson .38 SPL Airweight revolver and quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Merriweather admitted to possessing the firearm, which is a serious offense.

Under federal law, a person with a prior felony conviction is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Merriweather knew he was barred from possessing a firearm due to his prior felony conviction for distribution of a quantity of cocaine base in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 22, 2012.

Merriweather is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The severity of the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime.

United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a statement. U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing, while Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. Both officials played crucial roles in bringing Merriweather to justice.

A copy of the press release is available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, and related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-47. The case highlights the importance of enforcing federal laws related to firearms and narcotics.

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