Joseph Douglas Collier, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia 2024

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Table of Contents

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a shocking turn of events, Joseph Douglas Collier, 38, of Alum Creek, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 11, 2023, a law enforcement officer removed a Kimber model Tactical Pro II .45-caliber pistol from Collier’s possession after Collier allegedly brandished it outside a Charleston bar.

Collier knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, cocaine, in Kanawha County Circuit Court on January 12, 2010.

Collier is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The PSN program was launched on May 26, 2021, and aims to foster trust and legitimacy in our communities, support community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measure the results.

Collier’s guilty plea serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in similar behavior.