Maryland Man Sentenced for Firearms and Drug Violations
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Steven Somers, of Clinton, Maryland, was sentenced today to 78 months incarceration for drug and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Somers, age 25, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm as Drug User” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana” in January 2020. Somers admitted having marijuana in July 2019 in Monongalia County, and admitted to illegally having a 5.7x28mm caliber pistol in June 2018 in Lewis County.
“Drugs and firearms are not only a dangerous combination, it is an illegal one. When combined with witness intimidation, the significant sentence was justified and in the interests of our communities,” said Powell.
During a June 2018 traffic stop, Lewis County deputies found Somers in possession of counterfeit currency, a firearm, ammunition, marijuana, and an amphetamine/MDMA mix commonly known as “molly.” When federal agents executed a search warrant at Somers’ Monongalia County residence in July 2019, they found additional firearms, ammunition, THC “vape” cartridges, psychoactive mushrooms, over $12,000 in cash, and an illegal marijuana grow operation.
ATF testified today regarding several firearms that were purchased for Somers by someone else. One of those firearms was seized by Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. and appeared to be in the possession of a convicted murder. Another firearm was found in the hands of a high school student in Maryland as he attempted to take it into the school. Three of those firearms have yet to be recovered.
“Armed drug traffickers represent a violent and persistent threat to our communities, especially those who would seek to obstruct justice by threatening witnesses,” said R. Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Louisville Field Division, which includes West Virginia. “ATF will continue to prioritize investigations of these offenses, including the illegal purchase of firearms for criminals prohibited from possessing them. The recoveries of these crime guns took place hundreds of miles from their purchase, and were linked to drug traffickers, juveniles, and in one case, a convicted murderer.”
Prior to today’s sentencing, U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh had revoked Somers’ bond, after hearing testimony that Somers threatened a witness in an effort to influence his potential testimony.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
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