HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – An Ohio man was sentenced today to two and a half years in federal prison for a gun charge, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Stephen Hite Whitt, 30, of Scottown, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Whitt admitted that on June 21, 2014, he pawned a Marlin Model 60, .22 caliber rifle for $50.00 at Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry, located on 29th Street in Huntington. Whitt also admitted that on June 22 and June 30, 2014, he pawned three other rifles at Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry – a Marlin Model .30-30 rifle, a Glenfield Model 60, .22 rifle, and an Old Colony single shot 12-gauge shotgun. Whitt was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because prior to pawning the firearms, he had been convicted in 2007 of two counts of entering without breaking in the Circuit Court of Cabell County.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney R. Gregory McVey is in charge of the prosecution. Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by working with existing local programs that target gun crime.
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