United States of America v. Robert William Moats

Charleston, West Virginia firearm felony charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Robert William Moats, age 35, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, was charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with a removed serial number.



Moats previously admitted that on March 21, 2018, officers with the Charleston Police Department were looking for a female fugitive. Officers learned she was at a residence in Charleston. Officers were given consent by the homeowner to search for the fugitive. Officers found Moats inside the home sleeping on a chair with the fugitive. Officers awoke Moats and asked him to stand up. As he stood up, officers observed a silver pistol in his right front pants pocket. The officers secured the firearm, a Phoenix Arms, Raven, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The serial number had been removed from the pistol. Moats also admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a 2003 felony conviction for second degree murder.



The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Cremeans handled the prosecution.



UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC.

(1)

DEFACED FIREARMS

(2)

Defendant was sentenced to 37 months in prison.