FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 10, 2012
SHAWN LESTER SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL FIREARM POSSESSION
Federal sentence will be added to Lester’s state prison term
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that Shawn Lester was sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegal firearm possession. Lester, 36, of Charleston, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and a habitual drug user in possession of a firearm, both illegal under federal law. Lester was videotaped in possession of a shotgun in September 2007. At the time Lester had the shotgun, he was regularly using the prescription painkiller oxycodone illegally, and he had prior felony convictions for grand larceny and for a heroin distribution crime.
The Court ordered the defendant’s six-year prison term run consecutively to the state prison sentence he is currently serving.
The investigation was conducted by the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Gregory McVey handled the prosecution. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.
