Big Stone Gap man pleads guilty to illegal possession of a firearm (DOJ)

ABINGDON, Va. - A Big Stone Gap man, with a history of drug distribution, pled guilty last week to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

Jeremy Michael Boggs, 45, pled guilty last week to one count of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Boggs has agreed to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between eight and twelve years.

According to court documents, on January 7, 2026, law enforcement received a call for trespassing at an apartment building in Wise, Virginia. Upon arriving at the scene, officers located Boggs in the laundry room of the apartment building and learned Boggs had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

As officers searched Boggs pursuant to his arrest on the outstanding warrant, an officer located an empty holster on Boggs's belt. Wrapped inside a jacket Boggs had been wearing, officers found a loaded, Smith and Wesson revolver. In one of the jacket pockets, officers found a bag containing nine additional rounds of ammunition.

Boggs was prohibited from possessing firearms due to at least four previous felony convictions in Virginia and Tennessee, including for drug distribution and aggravated assault.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Washington Division, made the announcement made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wise Police Department, and Wise County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Hall is prosecuting the case.