Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty Today To Federal Firearm Charge

Monday, December 16, 2024, 4:45 P.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLESTON, W.VA.- Today, December 16, 2024, Eddie Wayne Chapman, Jr., 39, of St. Albans, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, Convicted Felon.

     According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and charging documents filed with the District Court, on July 18, 2024, Chapman was in possession of a backpack that was seized by Kanawha County Sheriff’s Officers. Inside the backpack, Sheriff’s Officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun and two ammunition magazines.

    During his plea allocution today, Chapman admitted that the Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun belonged to him and further admitted that the backpack contained around 65 grams of a substance containing fentanyl.

Chapman Knew He Was Prohibited From Possessing A Gun

     Chapman knew he was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm and ammunition due to his prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in October 2017, and conspiracy to operate a clandestine drug laboratory in Kanawha County Circuit Court in September 2010.

     Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Goodwin scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2025, at which time Chapman faces up to 15 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.