Felon sentenced for gun with destroyed serial number

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Clear Creek man was sentenced Thursday to two years and six months in federal prison following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Benjamin Payne, 47, pleaded guilty in September 2013. He admitted possessing and storing a loaded revolver with a destroyed serial number in his car. Payne disclosed he had acquired the firearm several weeks prior to his arrest.

According to case records, Payne came to the attention of the West Virginia State Police after being involved in an automobile accident in Beckley. An inventory of the vehicle led to the discovery of the handgun.

Payne has two previous felony firearm convictions and multiple burglary convictions.

U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.