Raleigh County Felon Gene A. James Sentenced in Gun Case

Gene A. James, a 46-year-old convicted felon from Sophia, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison for three years and one month after being caught with a loaded derringer in 2016. The sentence, handed down today in Beckley, marks the latest enforcement action under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Justice Department’s aggressive campaign to root out illegal gun possession in high-risk communities.

James pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries stiff penalties under federal law. He admitted to possessing a Leinad model DD derringer pistol on February 23, 2016, while inside Sophia—knowledge that the weapon was in his possession sealed his fate in court. Federal prosecutors emphasized that James had no legal right to own or handle any firearm due to a prior felony conviction.

That prior conviction, from 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, stemmed from James’ distribution of oxycodone—a drug crime that already branded him as a repeat offender in the eyes of law enforcement. The earlier conviction automatically barred him from gun ownership under the federal Gun Control Act, making this latest offense a clear violation of federal statute.

The investigation was led by the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), agencies that have intensified operations in southern West Virginia amid rising concerns over gun violence tied to drug trafficking. Agents moved swiftly once intelligence confirmed James’ possession of the derringer, underscoring the coordinated push to disrupt armed criminal activity at the local level.

U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the 37-month sentence, rejecting leniency arguments from the defense. In her ruling, she cited James’ criminal history and the inherent danger posed by armed felons in residential communities. The sentence includes no early release provisions, ensuring James will serve the full term behind bars.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that leverages federal, state, and local partnerships to combat gun crime. U.S. Attorney Carol Casto, who announced the sentence, reiterated the federal government’s zero-tolerance stance: “Convicted felons who possess firearms will be found, charged, and sentenced.” James now begins his time at a federal penitentiary, joining thousands across the country locked up under the same law.

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