St. Albans Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearms Charge
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 8:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CHARLESTON, W.VA.- On Thursday, January 25, 2025, Larry Joe Chapman, 44, 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 Irene C. Berger to being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, Convicted Felon.
Following entering his guilty plea on Thursday, Judge Berger scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2025, at which time Chapman faces up to 15 years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Chapman’s prior criminal history.
According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and charging information filed with the court, on March 28, 2025, members of the South Charleston Police Department responded to a reported shoplifting incident at a MacCorkle Avenue store in South Charleston.
Police Officers Find Handgun On Chapman
Upon arrival, Police Officers encountered Chapman in the storage area of the store, holding a knife in his hand. Police Officers placed Chapman under arrest, and took him outside the store, and searched him. During the search, Police Officers found a Smith & Wesson .380-caliber handgun and merchandise belonging to the store on his person.
Federal law prohibits a person previously convicted of a felony from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition. On March 28. 2024, Chapman knew he was prohibited from possessing the Smith & Wesson handgun due to his prior felony convictions for breaking and entering in February 2018 and conspiracy to operate and attempt to operate a clandestine drug laboratory for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine in November 2013, both convictions out of Kanawha County Circuit Court.
U.S. Attorney Thompson commended the investigative work of the South Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
