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WHEELING — Last week, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearm-related crimes during Fiscal Year 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process.
These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019, when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting and combating gun crimes as a critical part of the department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearm-related charges are the result of the law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearm-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” Barr said. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.”
Of the more than 14,200 cases charged, 57 cases involving 75 defendants have been brought by the Northern District of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney William J. Powell.
The Northern District began the 2021 fiscal year (Oct. 1) with more firearms cases. A grand jury sitting in Wheeling on Oct. 7-8 indicted 12 individuals with firearms violations. Of those cases, five are unsealed.
Walter S. Bernoski, 52, of Morgantown, was indicted on one count of false statement during purchase of firearm. Bernoski is accused of lying on the ATF form when purchasing a 9mm pistol in Morgantown in January 2018.
Leonadus Lowell Chaney, III, 52, of Fairmont, was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Lowell, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction, is accused of having a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol in Marion County in February.
Samuel Robert Loretta, 54, of Clarksburg, was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Loretta, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of three previous felonies, is accused of having a 6-shot revolver in Harrison County in March.
Shawn Monte Pritchard, 33, of Fairmont, was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Pritchard, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of three previous felonies, is accused of having a 9mm pistol and a .22 caliber rifle in October 2019 in Marion County.
Randolph Michael Smith, 42, of Wheeling, was indicted on one unlawful possession of a firearm and Ammunition and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Smith, a person prohibited from having a firearm because of four previous felonies, is accused of having two 9mm pistols seven 9mm caliber cartridges in May and August in Ohio County.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase — or even to attempt to illegally purchase — firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense.
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