Hurricane Man Pistore Cuffed in Gun Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brandon Pistore, 34, of Hurricane, West Virginia, is looking at federal prison time after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm. The guilty plea, entered today, adds another chapter to a record already stained by a 2006 federal drug conviction.

The bust originated on April 19, 2017, when a St. Albans Police Department officer pulled over a vehicle driven by Pistore. A search of the vehicle revealed a Davis Industries, Model P380 pistol. Pistore later copped to ownership of the weapon, a fatal admission given his status as a convicted felon.

Federal law clearly prohibits Pistore from possessing any firearm due to his 2006 conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. The charge carries a hefty penalty, and U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart didn’t mince words about the consequences. “Being a felon with a gun in my district is not a good idea,” Stuart stated bluntly. “If we catch you – and we will – we will prosecute you six days a week and twice on Sunday.”

The investigation was a joint effort between the St. Albans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Their combined work put Pistore in the crosshairs, and today’s guilty plea is a direct result of their dogged pursuit.

Pistore now faces up to 10 years behind bars when he’s sentenced on May 9, 2018. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith George Thomas is leading the prosecution, with Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presiding over the case. This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative designed to aggressively tackle gun violence by bolstering local crime-fighting programs.

This case serves as a stark warning: West Virginia’s federal prosecutors are serious about enforcing gun laws and will relentlessly pursue anyone who attempts to skirt the system. Expect more convictions like Pistore’s as Project Safe Neighborhoods continues to ramp up its efforts across the state. Follow U.S. Attorney Stuart’s office on Twitter @USAttyStuart and for Southern District of WV news @SDWVNews.