Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Two Beckley felons sentenced to federal prison for gun crimes
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Two Beckley felons were sentenced to federal prison today on gun charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Ryan Henry Guerrant, 27, previously entered his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison. In a separate prosecution, Clennel Pierre Cobb, 46, also previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to six years in federal prison to run consecutively to the sentence for his 2017 Raleigh County drug felony. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Beckley Police Department on these cases.
“Prison time awaits those who break our gun laws. My office is serious about keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Stuart. “We will continue working with law enforcement to target felons who think they are above the law.”
On August 10, 2017, an officer with the Beckley Police Department conducted a traffic stop in Beckley. Guerrant, a passenger in the back seat, informed the officer that he had an Omega, Model 100, .22 caliber revolver at his feet. Guerrant later admitted to law enforcement that he possessed the gun, and that he knew he was not supposed to possess the gun because he was a convicted felon. Guerrant was prohibited from possessing any firearm because of felony convictions in Raleigh County Circuit Court for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in 2013 and escape and attempted robbery in 2010.
In a separate prosecution, Cobb admitted that on August 12, 2016, he possessed a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm pistol. Cobb was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of multiple felony convictions, including drug convictions in 2006 and 2017 in Raleigh County Circuit Court.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentences.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking with existing local programs targeting gun crime.