CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a shocking turn of events, Francis Combs, 58, of Cool Ridge, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. This brazen crime is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2024, Combs sold a Bryco Arms model Jennings J-22 .22-caliber pistol to a confidential informant in Raleigh County. This reckless act is a clear violation of federal law, which prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Combs also admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl and a Jimenez Arms model JA-Nine 9mm pistol to a confidential informant at his residence on August 1, 2024. This is a chilling display of Combs’ disregard for the law and the safety of those around him.
As part of his guilty plea, Combs admitted to conducting the transaction at his residence and after selling a quantity of fentanyl to the confidential informant at a gas station in Ghent. This is a clear indication of Combs’ involvement in the illicit fentanyl trade.
Combs’ prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 26, 2007, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Wyoming County Circuit Court on October 1, 2019, make him a danger to society and a prime example of why stricter gun laws are needed.
Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a stark reminder that those who break the law will be held accountable and face the full force of justice.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. Their tireless efforts have brought this dangerous individual to justice and made our community a safer place.
Related Federal Cases
- Ebony Inez-Latee Johnson, Heroin Possession with Intent to Distribute, West Virginia 2016 · Wyoming
- Denise R. Allen, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Possession with Intent to Distribute, West Virginia 2023 · Wyoming
- David Walter Martin, Jr., Child Pornography Possession, West Virginia 2013 · Wyoming
- Bradley Temple, Unlawful Money Transactions, West Virginia, 2023 · Alabama
- Evan Strauss, Online Stalking and Child Porn Possession, Virginia 2024 · Wyoming
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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