BECKLEY, W.VA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - West Virginia, Southern), published as received.
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Greenbrier County man pled guilty to a gun crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Jonathan Felts, 30, of Smoot, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Felts admitted that on August 16, 2018, he was a passenger in a motor vehicle driving on Route 20 in Summers County, West Virginia. The vehicle was stopped because the registration plates were not visible. The deputy sheriff could smell burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. The deputy had each occupant exit the vehicle. In Felts’ backpack, deputies located a Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber six round magazine, numerous empty baggies used in the distribution of controlled substances, a blue digital scale, and approximately three grams of a white crystal substance.
Upon further search of the vehicle, deputies located a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol under the passenger seat and a Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber pistol stuffed underneath the cushion of the back seat.
The Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber six round magazine that was located in a lock box contained in Felts’ red back pack fit the Springfield Armory XDS, .40 caliber pistol.
Felts was convicted on September 4, 2014, in the Circuit Court of Greenbrier County of Delivery of a Controlled Substance - Oxymorphone. He was convicted on December 22, 2015, in the Circuit Court of Greenbrier County of Burglary.
Felts faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on April 20, 2020.
The Summers County Sheriff’s Department, the Summers County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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