Department of Justice

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert Given, Jr., of Lost Creek, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury today for firearms violations, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Given, age 47, is charged with one count of “Possession of an Unlawful Firearm” and one count of “Possession of Machinegun.” Given is accused of knowingly having a .223 caliber rifle with a shortened barrel that wasn’t registered to him. He is also accused of having a machine gun. Both crimes are alleged to have occurred in February 2019 in Harrison County.

Given faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarksburg Police Department, and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.