Nathaniel Martin, 50, from Fenwick, West Virginia, received a prison sentence of one year, followed by three years of supervised release, for the offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This development was announced by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston in Charleston, West Virginia.
The incident occurred on September 6, 2021, when a vehicle in which Martin was a passenger was stopped by law enforcement in the Monongahela National Forest, Nicholas County. The vehicle was found blocking a one-lane bridge. During this traffic stop, authorities discovered two firearms in the vehicle, one of which was identified as a Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun, which Martin possessed.
Under federal law, individuals with previous felony convictions are prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition. Martin was aware of this restriction as a result of his prior felony conviction for two counts of delivering a Schedule II controlled substance, issued by the Nicholas County Circuit Court on June 2, 2009.
The investigation that led to this conviction was credited to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Forest Service. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger delivered the sentence, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph.
This case falls within the scope of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between various levels of law enforcement and communities. On May 26, 2021, a strategy was launched to strengthen PSN, focusing on building trust, preventing violence, setting enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
Those interested can find the detailed press release on the official site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Additional court documents and information are accessible via PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-25.