DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of West Virginia

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Michael B. Stuart
, United States Attorney
Contact: Deanna Eder

Fayette County Man Sentenced on Federal Gun Charge

BECKLEY, W.Va. –  United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced today that Jordan Goard, 27, of Fayette County, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Goard’s sentence will run concurrently with a state sentence of over 60 years. Stuart commended the investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service CUFFED Task Force. 
 
“It’s so unfortunate that as a result of Goard’s criminal actions, he will be spending the majority of his life behind bars,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “But my team is working tirelessly to prevent violence in communities throughout the Southern District by locking up prohibited persons that violate federal gun laws.”
 
Goard pled guilty in April, admitting that on February 2, 2017, he possessed a .40 caliber pistol in Beckley.  Law enforcement agents seized the firearm from him when they apprehended him on another matter. 
 
Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution.  United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. 
 
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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Louisville Field Division