Wise County Man Convicted of Firearm Possession

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A Wise County man was recently found guilty following a two-day jury trial in federal court on a firearm possession charge, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced.

Dwayne Andre Adams, 38, of Wise, Virginia, was convicted of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  At sentencing, Adams faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

“It is a violation of federal law for a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to possess a firearm,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today.  “My office will prosecute those who violate this law, particularly where someone’s safety is endangered.”  

“When domestic abusers have access to guns it can lead to a tragic, even deadly outcome for their victims,” said Attorney General Herring. “We will use every tool we have to remove firearms from the hands of violent offenders and domestic abusers.” 

According to evidence presented at trial, Adams became involved in a domestic altercation on December 25, 2017, and recklessly handled a .45 caliber Hi-Point firearm.  Upon responding to a call of shots fired, Wise County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered evidence of shots being fired from multiple weapons, including in the vehicle of Adams’ wife.  A domestic violence protective order was secured and Adams’ wife and two minor children were escorted from the residence.  The next day, Adams was arrested and found to be in possession of a .45 caliber Hi-Point firearm.  He later pleaded guilty to recklessly handling that firearm.  A review of Adams’ criminal history revealed he has two prior convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, one in Wise County in 2005 and a second in Tazewell County in 2010. Both incidents involved different family or household members. 

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office.  Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted this case at trial for the United States.