A Wheeling resident has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge stemming from a search connected to a drug-related robbery investigation. The man, who has a prior felony conviction, admitted to possessing firearms illegally and now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
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Jakob Barnes, 39, was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to his criminal record. Authorities executed a search warrant at his Wheeling Island residence as part of an investigation into a drug-related robbery. During the search, law enforcement officers recovered two firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A federal district judge will determine the final sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and additional legal considerations.
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The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in collaboration with the Wheeling Police Department. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided over the proceedings.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia
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