An Ohio man has admitted to a federal gun crime in West Virginia. Justin Antonio Jones, 40, from Columbus, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents state that on September 29, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Mingo County, West Virginia. During the stop, officers heard what they believed was the sound of a semi-automatic firearm slide coming from another nearby vehicle. When they investigated, they found Jones standing by the other vehicle and saw him place an object under the passenger side front tire. Officers recovered a Keltec model PF-9 9mm pistol from that location.
Jones is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms due to his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Mingo County Circuit Court on October 27, 2008 and May 22, 2012.
He is scheduled for sentencing on May 20, 2026. He faces up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine as high as $250,000.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice focused on addressing illegal immigration and organized crime.
Additional information about this case can be found by searching Case No. 2:25-cr-191 on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..
