Maryland Man Admits Gun Trafficking Conspiracy

Gunrunner Alexander Michael Ryan Myers, 23, of Hagerstown, Maryland, has copped to his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy that flooded parts of West Virginia with weapons bypassing federal checks.

Myers pleaded guilty today in federal court in Martinsburg to one count of Conspiracy, admitting he schemed with others to buy, move, and hand over firearms to prohibited individuals—people legally barred from owning guns—between March and April 2021.

The operation ran through Berkeley County and other locations, exploiting loopholes and cash transactions to arm those who shouldn’t have access. Authorities say the scheme threatened public safety and undermined federal gun control laws.

Now facing up to five years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000, Myers’ actual sentence will hinge on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the severity of the crimes and any prior record.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher leading the prosecution. Details of co-conspirators remain under scrutiny as the probe continues.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the hearing. No parole in the federal system means every year handed down will be served.

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