Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Donovan Dewayne Pauley, 20, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years of federal probation for possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 22, 2025, Pauley sold a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun to a confidential informant in Huntington for $200. The shotgun has an approximate barrel length of 13 and 15/16 inches. This type of firearm is commonly referred to as a short-barreled shotgun and is required to be registered under the National Firearms Act. As part of his guilty plea, Pauley admitted that the firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of 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.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-157.

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