BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Another repeat offender caught with his hand on a piece. Richard Charles Cart, 42, of Poca, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries serious weight. This isn’t a first-time stumble for Cart; his criminal history paints a clear picture of disregard for the law.
According to court documents, on February 28, 2025, Cart brazenly attempted to pawn a Ruger model LCP .380-caliber pistol at a Charleston pawn shop. It wasn’t a slip of the mind – Cart knew he was prohibited from owning a firearm. His past is littered with convictions: grand larceny in Kanawha Circuit Court on May 23, 2022, and a 2019 conviction for possession of methamphetamine in Jackson County, Georgia Superior Court. Both felonies automatically disqualify him from possessing weapons.
This case isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of Operation Take Back America, a sweeping federal initiative aimed at dismantling cartels, tackling transnational criminal organizations, and, as officials put it, “protecting our communities.” Translation: a lot of federal resources are being thrown at this, and Cart is just one cog in a much larger machine they’re trying to shut down. The operation pulls together efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston didn’t mince words, praising the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies did the legwork, building the case against Cart. Now, he’s facing the music. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2026, and the potential consequences are steep.
Cart is looking at a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars, alongside up to three years of supervised release after he gets out. On top of that, a hefty $250,000 fine could be levied. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber will hand down the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case, meaning Cart won’t be getting a slap on the wrist.
For those wanting to dig deeper, a copy of the press release is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia. Court documents related to Case No. 2:25-cr-108 can be found on PACER. This is just one case, but it highlights the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and the individuals who continue to break the law, putting communities at risk.
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Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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