Willard Lee Moss, Jr., Firearms Violation, West Virginia 2018

A local man has been found guilty of a firearms violation in a federal court. Willard Lee Moss, Jr., 37, of Saint Marys, West Virginia, was convicted of one count of 'Domestic Violence Offender in Possession of a Firearm'.

The guilty verdict was handed down after a two-day trial in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Moss was found to have possessed one handgun, three rifles, and two shotguns in his home in February 2018, despite having previously been convicted of two separate domestic violence offenses in Pleasants County.

Moss faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in reducing violent crime and making neighborhoods safer. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made reducing violent crime a top priority.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Pleasants County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The trial was presided over by Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley. Moss's conviction is a reminder that the government will take action against individuals who possess firearms despite being prohibited from doing so.

Moss's sentence will be determined at a later date. In the meantime, he remains in custody.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/pleasants-county-man-found-guilty-firearms-violation