Eddie Wayne Chapman Jr., a 39-year-old resident of St. Albans, has been sentenced to five years and ten months in prison, with an additional three years of supervised release. Chapman was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating supervised release.
Court records reveal that on July 18, 2024, Chapman was found with a backpack containing a loaded Smith & Wesson SD9 VE 9mm pistol and two ammunition magazines. The backpack also contained approximately 65 grams of substances with fentanyl. Under federal law, individuals with prior felony convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Chapman was aware of this restriction due to his previous felony convictions, including an October 23, 2017, conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and a September 30, 2010, conviction for conspiracy to operate a clandestine drug laboratory.
During this incident, Chapman was already serving a supervised release term resulting from his 2017 convictions. His new sentence includes one year and three months in prison for committing a crime while on supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the sentence and praised the efforts of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aiming to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety. The program focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and evaluating results.
Further details and related court documents for this case, identified as Case No. 2:24-cr-193, can be accessed on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia and PACER.