Charleston Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Sawed-off Shotgun
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In a move to protect the public and uphold gun laws, a Charleston man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for a gun-related crime.
The defendant, Joe Orville Fooce, III, 44, was found guilty of possessing a shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches and an overall length less than 26 inches not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to the South Charleston Police Department, Fooce was unresponsive at an intersection in July 2016. After he was transported by medics, officers discovered the sawed-off shotgun in his backpack. Fooce admitted that he knew the firearm had been modified from its original length.
U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the South Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in bringing this case to justice.
Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime.
Stuart expressed his support for the Second Amendment, stating, ‘I support the Second Amendment 100%, but criminals who possess guns are a threat to innocent people, law enforcement, and, ultimately, the Second Amendment.’
As United States Attorney, Stuart vowed to continue working with law enforcement to prosecute those who fail to respect the Second Amendment and gun laws.
In this case, Fooce was sentenced to two years in federal prison, demonstrating the seriousness of the offense and the commitment to enforcing gun laws in West Virginia.
The case highlights the importance of community policing and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to combat gun violence and protect public safety.
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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