Braden Robertson, a 30-year-old resident of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty on April 14 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The plea was entered in Charleston federal court.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to address gun crimes and protect communities. The office prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the United States to enhance citizens’ quality of life, according to the official website.
Court documents show that on July 6, 2024, Robertson possessed five firearms despite having prior felony convictions that prohibit him from owning guns. Four of these firearms were stolen from a Fayette County pawn shop during break-ins led by Jawuan Akil Watts earlier that month. Law enforcement later recovered some stolen firearms during searches related to other individuals involved.
Watts was sentenced on December 4, 2025, to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Another individual connected with the case, Lesley Scott Watkins, received three years and ten months in prison with supervised release as well.
United States Attorney Moore Capito announced the plea and commended investigative work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Oak Hill Police Department. “These cases are part of Operation Take Back America,” Capito said. The initiative is described as marshaling resources across the Department of Justice “to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over Robertson’s hearing while Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District operates under the United States Department of Justice according to its official website. It covers 23 counties in southern West Virginia according to its official website, employs 37 attorneys along with other personnel according to its official website, prosecutes federal offenses and defends civil litigation according to its official website, collects government debts, protects public interests across its district according to its official website, improves communities through enforcement efforts according to its official website, offers prosecution services for federal offenses as well as representation in civil matters according to its official website.
Robertson faces up to fifteen years imprisonment when sentenced on July 28 along with possible supervised release or fines.
