Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Ricky Steve John, 50, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 20, 2024, John possessed a Ruger model EC9 9mm semiautomatic pistol concealed in his pants in Charleston.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. John knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for voluntary manslaughter in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 21, 2016.

John is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Chief United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-136.

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