Charles Dana Johnson II, a 36-year-old resident of Cairo, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This plea was entered in Charleston on June 9, 2025.
Court documents and statements reveal that on November 17, 2024, Johnson was stopped by law enforcement while driving in Parkersburg. During this traffic stop, he admitted to possessing two loaded firearms: a SCCY model DVG-1 9mm pistol and a Walther model P22 .22-caliber pistol found in his waistband.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from owning firearms or ammunition. Johnson was aware of this restriction due to his previous convictions for possession with intent to deliver heroin on October 2, 2016, and first-degree robbery on January 12, 2012—both adjudicated in Wood County Circuit Court.
Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2025. He faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. She praised the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger oversaw the hearing. The case is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN was launched focusing on building community trust and supporting violence prevention initiatives.
Additionally, this case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice targeting illegal immigration and organized criminal activities while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
For more information or related court documents regarding this case (Case No. 2:25-cr-27), interested parties can visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia or search PACER.
