OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two Oak Hill men have been sentenced in federal court for being felons in possession of firearms following a series of thefts from a local pawn shop.
On Friday, 31-year-old Jawuan Akil Watts was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Lesley Scott Watkins, 50, received a sentence of three years and 10 months in prison, also to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Watts and others broke into a Fayette County pawn shop three times on July 4, 2024, stealing 33 firearms, ammunition, coins, and a gaming console.
Watts distributed many of the firearms to others in the Oak Hill community, including individuals with felony convictions. Watkins obtained several of the stolen guns.
On July 6, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Watkins’ home after he sold two stolen firearms to a confidential informant.
Officers recovered three firearms during the search, including two stolen from the pawn shop. Sixteen stolen firearms remain missing.
As part of their guilty pleas, Watts admitted possessing a Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider .22-caliber revolver and a Colt Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver on July 6, 2024.
Watkins admitted to possessing an HS Product XD-S .45-caliber pistol and an Sig Sauer P220 .45-caliber pistol on July 5, 2024.
Both men were prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Watts’ record includes burglary, property crimes, and drug possession offenses, while Watkins’ record includes delivery of a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Moore Capito praised the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department. U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentences.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys D. Keith Randolph and Timothy D. Boggess.
The prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal firearms possession, violent crime, and transnational criminal activity.
