From Office of the United State Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia

 

A federal grand jury returned indictments today charging five individuals with unlawful possession of firearms, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced Tuesday. Among those indicted was a resident of Bridgeport, Clarksburg and Lost Creek. Also indicted were men from Maryland and Pennsylvania.

 

Deandre Jones, 29, of Irwin, Pennsylvania, and Robert Pannell, 34, of Bridgeport are charged with one count of “Aiding and Abetting the Straw Purchase of a Firearm.” Pannell is further charged with one count of “False Statement in Acquisition of Firearm,” and one count of “Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.”

 

Wade Highland, 45, of Lost Creek is alleged to have been in unlawful possession of multiple firearms in Harrison County throughout 2014. He is charged with two counts of “Possession of Stolen Firearms,” and one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearms.”

 

Mike Sheriff Scott, 35, of Columbia, Maryland, is alleged to have been in unlawful possession of a .22 caliber revolver in Monongalia County in November 2014. He is charged with one count of “Felon in Possession of Firearm.”

 

Darius Henning, 24, of Clarksburg, is alleged to have been in unlawful possession of a .45 caliber pistol in Harrison County in January 2015. He is charged with one count of “Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,” and one count of “Possession of Stolen Firearm.”

 

Each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 on each count outlined above. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley is prosecuting Scott, Highland, and Leonard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan is prosecuting Henning, Pannell, and Jones on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the investigations.

 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.