HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Roger Lee Townson, 58, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 25, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a garage behind Townson’s residence. Officers ordered the residence’s occupants, including Townson, to exit the house and asked Townson if there were any firearms inside. Townson told officers he had a firearm in his bedroom and allowed officers to enter the residence to secure it. Officers found a Glock model 43 9mm pistol in the bedroom.Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction or a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Townson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior convictions for forgery in Cabell County Circuit Court on March 10, 2000, and for domestic battery in Cabell County Magistrate Court on June 14, 2010.United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley C. Shamblin and Sarah N. Hudson prosecuted the case.This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-182.###
Source: U.S. Department of Justice