ABINGDON, Va. – Jeremy Michael Boggs, a 45-year-old man from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, pled guilty last week to one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Boggs has agreed to a sentencing range of eight to twelve years in federal prison.
The charges arise from an incident on January 7, 2026, when law enforcement officers responded to a trespassing complaint at an apartment complex in Wise, Virginia. Upon arrival, officers located Boggs in the laundry room of the building and discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
During the arrest and subsequent search, officers found Boggs wearing an empty holster on his belt. Wrapped inside a jacket he was wearing, law enforcement recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver. Additionally, a bag containing nine rounds of ammunition was found in one of the jacket’s pockets.
Boggs is legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to at least four prior felony convictions across Virginia and Tennessee. These convictions include offenses related to drug distribution and aggravated assault.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Washington Division, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wise Police Department, and the Wise County Sheriff’s Office.
This case highlights ongoing federal enforcement efforts targeting felons who unlawfully possess firearms, a violation that carries significant prison terms under federal law.
Additional recent federal prosecutions in the Western District of Virginia include a Rocky Mount man sentenced to 40 months for illegal firearm possession and a former gun store employee who pled guilty to possession of stolen ammunition.
These cases underscore the collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms regulations in the region.
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Big Stone Gap Resident Admits to Felonious Firearm Possession, Faces Lengthy Prison Term Jeremy Michael Boggs, 45, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, pled guilty to possessing a firearm after felony convictions, stemming from an incident on January 7, 2026, when law enforcement found him with a loaded revolver and... Read the full WLF article: https://worldlawyersforum.org/news/big-stone-gap-resident-admits-to-felonious-firearm-possession-faces-lengthy-prison-term