Greenbrier County man pleads guilty to federal gun crime

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (WVNS) — A man from Greenbrier County pleaded guilty to a federal gun crime.

According to a press release, 58-year-old Wilbur Curtis Arnold Jr., of White Sulphur Springs, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The press release stated that according to statements made in court, when members of law enforcement arrested Arnold on April 29, 2024 at his house on a warrant, they found a rifle that Arnold said was his.

Arnold reportedly brought a handgun to a business in the White Sulphur Springs area of Greenbrier County on June 30, 2023, where he then sold it for $300. He also had his ID and a signed purchase agreement showing the sale of the handgun, according to the press release.

People with previous felony convictions are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition according to federal law. Arnold, who had a previous felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 7, 2016, knew that he could not have a gun in his possession.

Arnold’s sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2024, and he faces up to 15 years in prison, a maximum of three years of parole, and a $250,000 fine.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for their work on the investigation.

The Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is made up of members from the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office, the Lewisburg Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police.

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