Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession

Duane Jabbar Martin, 31, of Rivesville, West Virginia, is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm—a charge stemming from his possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in April 2016. The conviction, announced by Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, marks another strike in the DOJ’s crackdown on felons armed and on the loose.

Martin, previously convicted of a felony in Marion County, is legally barred from possessing any firearm under federal law. Despite that, he admitted to holding onto the loaded 9mm during a law enforcement encounter. The weapon, along with his criminal record, sealed his fate the moment investigators identified him as a prohibited possessor.

The defendant pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,” a charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000. While the statutory maximum looms, the actual sentence will be calculated under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the severity of the offense and Martin’s full criminal history.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook handled the prosecution, building the case on evidence gathered by federal and local investigators. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) worked in tandem with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to track down the firearm and confirm Martin’s prohibited status.

The plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi, who oversaw the proceedings in Clarksburg, West Virginia. No co-defendants were charged, and no additional weapons were recovered in connection with the case.

Martin remains in custody pending sentencing. Federal authorities continue to emphasize that felons in possession of guns will be hunted down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law—especially in West Virginia, where illegal firearms are a growing driver of violent crime.

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