Huntington Man Sentenced For Federal Gun Crime

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 6:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

HUNTINGTON, W.VA.- On Monday, April 28, 2025, Michael Vernon Pinson, 30, of Huntington, West Virginia, appeared in the U.S. District District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers to 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston and charging documents filed with the District Court, on February 20, 2024, members of the Huntington Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive man inside a vehicle in Huntington, West Virginia.

Police Officers Find Pinson Passed Out In Car With Loaded Gun

     Upon arrival, Police Officers located a vehicle with the engine running, and Pinson passed out in the driver’s seat. After getting Pinson out of the vehicle, Police Officers, during a subsequent search of the vehicle, found a loaded Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside the vehicle. At that time, Pinson was taken into custody. A subsequent records check revealed that Pinson had prior felony convictions.

     Federal prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from owning or possessing a firearm and ammunition. Pinson knew when he possessed the handgun on February 20, 2024; he was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to a prior felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Cabell County Circuit Court in February 2016.

     Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Pinson.