Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charges

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- An Ohio man who illegally sold several firearms to a convicted felon in 2012 pleaded guilty Tuesday in Huntington to federal charges, according to information from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office.

Jeffrey Allen Jones, 50, of Chesapeake, Ohio, pleaded guilty to knowingly selling firearms to a convicted felon. On March 15, 2012, a police informant contacted Jones by telephone and arranged to purchase a .22-caliber pistol.

Afterward, Jones met the informant at a predetermined location in Huntington and sold the pistol in exchange for $150.

Jones knew that prior to conducting the firearm transaction, the informant had been convicted of a felony and was not permitted to possess a firearm.

During the firearm transaction, Jones told the police informant to wipe the firearm down and if anything happened he would report the gun stolen.

Jones also sold an additional five firearms to the same police informant. All of the firearm transactions were monitored and recorded by police.

Jones faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Aug. 26 by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers.