West Virginia Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearms Possession

Joseph Nathaniel Hartman, a 43-year-old resident of Petersburg, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. The sentence was handed down by Chief U. S.

District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh, according to an announcement by U. S.

Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Hartman's legal troubles began when law enforcement responded to a domestic violence incident at a home in Grant County, West Virginia. During the response, Hartman was found in possession of a rifle. A subsequent search of his residence led to the discovery and seizure of two additional rifles, a shotgun, and a pistol. Due to prior felony firearms and drug convictions, as well as a previous domestic battery conviction, Hartman is prohibited from possessing firearms.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner and involved investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the West Virginia State Police, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, protecting communities from violent crime, and addressing illegal immigration.

Hartman's sentence reflects the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat illegal firearm possession, particularly by individuals with a history of violent and drug-related crimes.