R. Booth Goodwin II, United States Attorney
Southern District of West Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Melvin Smith
June 6, 2011 melvin.smith@usdoj.gov
LOGAN COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL FIREARM POSSESSION
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gregory Bruce Adkins, 53, of Chapmanville, Logan County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today in federal court before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. to illegal possession of a firearm. Following a domestic dispute on November 12, 2010, Adkins was arrested by members of the West Virginia State Police in Logan County. At the time of the arrest, police recovered a pistol from Adkins’ vehicle. Adkins admitted that the pistol had been converted to a fully automatic firearm. Law enforcement conducted a test fire of the pistol and, it in fact functioned as a fully automatic firearm. Adkins gave a statement to officers and admitted that the pistol was his and that he had converted it to operate as a fully automatic firearm. The pistol was not registered to Adkins in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Adkins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on September 14, 2011.
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.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Monica Dillon is in charge of the prosecution.
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