Robert Allen Armstrong, Stolen Firearm Possession, West Virginia 2010

Putnam County Man Gets 1.5 Years for Stolen Firearm

A Putnam County man has been sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison for possession of a stolen firearm.

Robert Allen Armstrong, 25, of Hurricane, W.Va., was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing a Raven Arms .25 caliber pistol that had been stolen from a pickup truck in 2010.

According to court documents, on July 16, 2010, officers with the Hurricane Police Department arrived at Armstrong’s residence to execute an arrest warrant. During the execution of the warrant, an officer seized the stolen Raven Arms .25 caliber pistol from behind a planter located on the porch of the residence.

Armstrong admitted to possessing a Ruger .22 caliber pistol in his bedroom dresser at the residence, which was also stolen. Law enforcement officers received a complaint that the Ruger .22 caliber pistol had been stolen from a pickup truck sometime between July 15 and July 22, 2010. Armstrong admitted that he knew the Ruger .22 caliber pistol had been stolen.

Armstrong was previously convicted of a felony in February 2007 in the Circuit Court of Putnam County, West Virginia, and did not have his rights to possess a firearm restored.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Chief Judge Robert C. Chambers, who also noted that this case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

The case was investigated by the Hurricane Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled the prosecution.

Armstrong will serve his sentence at a federal prison, where he will be expected to adhere to strict rules and regulations. His sentence is a reminder that possession of stolen firearms will not be tolerated in our community.

This case serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar activities: the consequences of gun crime will be severe and swift. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.