James Anthony Mitchell, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia 2018

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Detroit Man Faces 10 Years for Gun Charge

A Detroit man has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge after a bar fight in Huntington, West Virginia, in 2013. James Anthony Mitchell, 25, entered his guilty plea to prohibited possession of a firearm by a felon, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

The incident occurred on April 7, 2013, at approximately 3:00 a.m. when officers with the Huntington Police Department were dispatched to the Rehab bar in response to a large fight in the bar’s parking lot. A bystander provided a description of a male who had just left the area of the fight in possession of a gun, and an officer located Mitchell, who matched the suspect description, walking in front of the Greyhound bus station away from Rehab.

The officer conducted a frisk of Mitchell and located a loaded Taurus .38 caliber pistol concealed in his waistband. Further investigation revealed that Mitchell had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including assault during the commission of a felony in Cabell County Circuit Court, and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing unusual about a felon from Detroit involved in violence in Huntington,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “But make no mistake, we will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases until it is unusual.”

Mitchell faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 27, 2018. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Clint Carte are responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime.