Scott Alan Thomas, 53, of Masontown, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison for 41 months after being caught with a .22 caliber revolver — a crime made far worse by his history of felony convictions across state lines.
Thomas pleaded guilty in September 2016 to one count of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm,” following a December 2015 discovery by law enforcement. At the time, authorities found the firearm during an investigation that quickly uncovered his disqualifying criminal past — prior felony convictions in both Ohio and Florida.
Under federal law, individuals with felony convictions are banned from possessing firearms. Thomas’s record made the offense a guaranteed federal case, drawing the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which led the investigation alongside the West Virginia State Police and Masontown Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced the sentence handed down today in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Assistant United States Attorney Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case, pushing for accountability under strict federal gun laws designed to keep weapons out of the hands of violent offenders.
U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided over the sentencing, ultimately imposing the 41-month prison term. No further details were provided on potential supervised release following incarceration.
The case underscores the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal gun possession, especially among repeat offenders. With Thomas now locked up, investigators say they’re turning focus to how he obtained the weapon and whether others were involved in its distribution.
Related Federal Cases
- Ohio Felon Whitt Gets 30 Months for Gun Possession · West Virginia
- Ohio Man Copped Gun Charge, Gets 46 Months · West Virginia
- Thomas Bennett Admits to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Florida Felon Cops to Gun Charge in Charleston Bust · West Virginia
- Joshua Edie Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Possession · West Virginia
Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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