Michael Vernon Pinson Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Huntington, has entered a guilty plea to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This development was confirmed by court documents and statements made during the proceedings.
The incident that led to these charges occurred on February 20, 2024. Law enforcement officers responded to reports of an unresponsive male in a vehicle in Huntington and found Pinson in the driver’s seat. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Taurus model PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm pistol.
Federal law bars individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Pinson acknowledged awareness of this prohibition due to his prior felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Cabell County Circuit Court on February 16, 2016.
Pinson is slated for sentencing on April 28, 2025. He could face up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the guilty plea and commended the investigative efforts by the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers oversaw the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites law enforcement at all levels with communities to combat violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
Further information can be accessed via related court documents available through PACER by searching Case No. 3:24-cr-149.