James Andrew Logan Admits to Firearm Trafficking Conspiracy

James Andrew Logan, 27, of Dundalk, Maryland, has admitted his role in a multi-year firearms trafficking conspiracy that flooded parts of West Virginia with illegally obtained guns. The plea, entered in federal court in Martinsburg, marks a key development in a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) crackdown on interstate gun smuggling networks.

Logan pleaded guilty today to one count of “Conspiracy” for orchestrating and participating in the unlawful purchase, possession, and transfer of firearms to individuals prohibited from owning them. According to court documents, the criminal activity spanned from April 2019 to December 2020, with Berkeley County serving as a primary hub for distribution.

Authorities allege Logan worked with a network of associates to exploit loopholes in firearm sales, buying weapons legally and then funneling them to felons and other barred persons. The operation bypassed background checks and federal safeguards, posing a direct threat to public safety in the Eastern Panhandle and beyond.

Under federal law, Logan now faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the severity of the offenses and Logan’s prior criminal history, if any.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher. The ATF led the investigation, utilizing undercover operations, trace data, and informant testimony to dismantle the trafficking ring. Investigators say more charges could follow against co-conspirators.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the hearing. Logan remains in federal custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for a later date. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia confirmed the case as part of a broader initiative targeting illegal gun trafficking corridors in Appalachia.