Justin J. Monroe, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia 2020

A Beckley man has pled guilty to a federal gun crime in West Virginia, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

Justin J. Monroe, 34, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in the Southern District of West Virginia.

On September 20, 2019, a vehicle in which Monroe was a passenger was stopped by the West Virginia State Police for speeding along Interstate 64 near Hurricane. Troopers later searched the vehicle, which was being driven by an inebriated driver, and recovered a Glock model 23 .40 caliber pistol.

Monroe claimed ownership of the firearm on the scene, and later admitted to law enforcement that he knew he was a convicted felon which barred him from possessing the firearm, but that he chose to keep it for protection.

Monroe has two prior felony convictions in Raleigh County Circuit Court.

Monroe faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when sentenced on November 16, 2020, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers will preside over the sentencing hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Negar M. Kordestani is handling the prosecution.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/project-guardian-beckley-man-pleads-guilty-federal-gun-charge