Matthew Harris England, a 38-year-old resident of Meadow Bridge, West Virginia, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison. This will be followed by three years of supervised release for his crimes related to firearm possession. The charges against him include being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.
The case unfolded on April 3, 2023, when law enforcement responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at England's residence. Upon entering the home, officers discovered a Savage model Stevens 94F, 20-gauge shotgun with modifications to its barrel and stock in the living room. England admitted awareness of the firearm's presence and its illegal barrel length.
Federal law requires registration of such firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, which was not done for this weapon. Additionally, individuals with prior felony convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. England was aware of these restrictions due to his previous conviction for aiding and abetting the possession of stolen firearms in May 2014.
United States Attorney Will Thompson acknowledged the efforts of the Summers County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in investigating this case. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk delivered the sentence while Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin handled prosecution duties.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, this strategy emphasizes community trust, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
For further details on this case or related documents, interested parties can refer to Case No. 5:23-cr-93 via PACER or visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia.