Felon Jailed 5 Years for Beckley Gun Crime

A Beckley man has landed in federal prison for a serious crime that puts the public in danger.

Eric I. Day, 53, of Beckley, was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The crime occurred on August 21, 2021, when law enforcement officers responding to reports of an altercation on South Huber Street in Beckley encountered Day and his girlfriend. The officers recovered a Lorcin model .380-caliber handgun from the waistband of Day’s shorts.

Day knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on May 16, 2017. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The case is also a reminder that the consequences for breaking federal gun laws are severe.

The public can view related court documents and information on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-86. A copy of this press release is also available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.