Steven Jones, Unregistered Weapon, West Virginia 2018

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a shocking turn of events, Steven Jones, 31, of Ripley, pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges in a West Virginia court. The defendant was accused of possessing an unregistered weapon, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jones’ residence on November 6, 2017, and found a metal pipe bomb, gun powder, and other items used for a destructive device. Jones admitted to building the pipe bomb and detonating two others on his property.

The pipe bomb was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, which led to Jones’ arrest and subsequent guilty plea. The case was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the West Virginia State Police, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is in charge of the prosecution, and the plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

Jones will be sentenced on March 19, 2018, and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of unregistered weapons and the importance of ensuring public safety.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime, brought this case to light. The program focuses on networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime and aims to make communities safer.

The guilty plea of Steven Jones serves as a warning to those who would seek to possess unregistered weapons. The consequences are severe, and the public will be safer as a result of this case.