HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Baker, 37, of Huntington, is headed to federal prison for nearly five years after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence, handed down today, underscores the ongoing federal crackdown on violent offenders in West Virginia.
According to court records, officers with the Huntington Police Department raided Baker’s apartment on 26th Street on March 2, 2021. The search uncovered a firearm resting on a nightstand. Baker confessed to owning the weapon, despite being a convicted felon – a 2011 felony drug conviction in Bibb County, Georgia, explicitly prohibiting him from doing so.
“This isn’t some minor infraction,” a source within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) told Grimy Times. “This guy *knew* he wasn’t allowed to have a gun. Putting a firearm in the hands of a convicted felon puts the whole community at risk.” The ATF, alongside the Huntington Police Department, led the investigation.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson announced the sentencing, praising the collaborative effort of both federal and local law enforcement. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers delivered the sentence: four years and nine months in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor prosecuted the case.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN focuses on targeting the most dangerous offenders and working with local programs to prevent future crime. This sentencing is presented as a clear message: illegal gun possession will not be tolerated.
Court documents related to the case, 3:21-cr-00056, are available on PACER. A full press release can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. This conviction serves as another notch in the federal government’s ongoing attempt to stem the tide of violence in the region, though many question if these efforts address the root causes of crime in struggling communities like Huntington.
Related Federal Cases
- Felon Gray Gets 16 Months for Gun Possession · Georgia
- Huntington Felon Jonathan Baker Cuffed for Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- GA Man Gray Sentenced for Gun Possession · Georgia
- Moore Gets 63 Months for Stolen .40 Caliber · West Virginia
- Columbus Man Gets 8 Months for Huntington Heroin Possession · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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