CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two men from Oak Hill, Lesley Scott Watkins, 50, and Jawuan Akil Watts, 31, have pleaded guilty to federal charges of being felons in possession of firearms, federal officials announced Thursday.
According to court documents, Watkins was found in possession of two .45-caliber pistols on July 5, 2024, in Fayette County, while Watts possessed two .22-caliber revolvers in the county on July 6, 2024.
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Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Watkins has a prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County from 2008, and Watts has a prior felony conviction for burglary in Raleigh County from 2014.
Both men are scheduled for sentencing on December 4, 2025. Each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and D. Keith Randolph, before U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger.
The prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and strengthening community safety through coordinated federal efforts.
