BECKLEY, W.Va. — A Raleigh County teen pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing 24 firearms from a federally licensed dealer last year.
Dillon Jackson, 18, admitted to using a crow bar with an accomplice to break into the glass door of a Fairdale firearm dealer on July 11, 2017. Once inside, they took a total of 24 rifles and pistols.
Jackson further admitted to trading the stolen weapons in exchange for money and drugs. At least one of the firearms was capable of receiving a high capacity magazine.
“Stealing firearms to trade them for drugs guarantees the guns are being put in the wrong hands for the purpose of criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart. “We are aggressively prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
Jackson faces up to ten years in a federal prison when he is sentenced on August 22. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Clint Carte will handle the prosecution.