CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dana Stevenson, 30, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of ammunition in connection with a shooting that occurred in Charleston. In connection with a separate incident, Stevenson also pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl in South Charleston.
According to statements made in court, Stevenson illegally possessed 9mm caliber ammunition on July 5, 2021. The ammunition was recovered at the scene of a shooting that occurred in broad daylight at Central and Glenwood Avenues on Charleston’s West Side. Stevenson is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to his 2018 federal convictions in the Southern District of West Virginia for the felony offenses of distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Approximately five weeks later on August 12, 2021, members of the South Charleston Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Stevenson and Stevenson fled at a high rate of speed. Stevenson was eventually apprehended and officers recovered approximately 38 grams of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle. The quantity of fentanyl and presence of certain paraphernalia established that Stevenson intended to distribute the drug.
Stevenson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 2, 2022.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Stephanie S. Taylor are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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. 2:21-cr-00161.
###