Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Joshua Steven Hicks, 43, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hicks in Hurricane. Hicks admitted that he possessed a Taurus model 709 Slim 9mm pistol that was seized during the traffic stop.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hicks knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 29, 2018.

Hicks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

At the time of his current offense, Hicks was on supervised release for his November 29, 2018, convictions. On September 12, 2024, Hicks was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

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. 3:25-cr-54.

###