Bluefield man heading to prison on illegal firearm charges

A Mercer County man is heading to federal prison on illegal firearm charges.

Shawn T. Anderson, 36, of Bluefield, was sentenced to ten years in prison Monday, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s Office.

Anderson admitted to meeting up with an individual near Bluefield who was cooperating with law enforcement authorities on December 6, 2011.

According to the release, Anderson confronted the informant about cooperating with police and pulled out a gun in an attempt to scare the informant from further cooperating with authorities.

Anderson fired several rounds from the weapon, and one of the rounds struck the confidential informant in the hand.

Anderson previously pleaded guilty last October to carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.