William M. Johnson, Jr., False Statement to Acquire Firearm, WV

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – William M. Johnson, Jr., a 30-year-old from McMechen, made his first court appearance today following an indictment for serious firearms violations. According to United States Attorney Bill Powell, the federal grand jury in Wheeling indicted Johnson on one count of ‘False Statement to Acquire Firearm’.

Johnson is alleged to have lied about the purpose of a .40 caliber pistol he purchased, claiming it was for his own use when he actually intended it for a convicted felon. The illegal transaction occurred in Ohio County back in August 2018.

The defendant now faces up to a decade behind bars and a fine reaching $250,000. The sentence to be imposed will consider the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history, according to federal guidelines.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is responsible for bringing this case to light. PSN, part of the Department of Justice’s efforts against violent crime, collaborates with various stakeholders to identify and address community violence problems effectively.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams Jr. is prosecuting the case for the government. As always, an indictment is merely an accusation, and Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided over the initial court hearing.

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