CHARLESTON – United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced that six individuals, including a Danville man, were indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Charleston on illegal firearm possession charges.

According to an indictment filed, Ernest Robert Ulbrich, 49, of Danville, was charged with being a person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective in possession of firearms. Ulbrich allegedly possessed four firearms on November 6, 2011, near Danville in Boone County.

According to a separate indictment filed, Sterlyn Avery Hewlett, 29, of Huntington, allegedly possessed a firearm on May 17, 2012. At the time Hewlett allegedly possessed the firearm, he had been previously convicted in the United States District Court of the Southern District of West Virginia of distribution of a controlled substance.

According to a separate indictment filed, Terry Tomblin, 42, of Mt. Gay, allegedly possessed a firearm on December 31, 2012. At the time Tomblin allegedly possessed the firearm, he had been convicted in the United States District Court of the Southern District of West Virginia of possession of hydrocodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge.

According to a separate indictment filed, Shaun Michael Linko, 25, of Parkersburg, allegedly possessed a firearm on September 19, 2012, near Parkersburg. Linko was previously convicted in March 2010 in the Circuit Court of Wood County, West Virginia of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and did not have his rights to possess a firearm restored.

According to a separate two-count indictment filed, Cody Fuller, 26, of Charleston, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen firearms. The two-count indictment alleges that on November 27, 2012, Fuller possessed two stolen firearms near Charleston. Fuller was convicted in April 2007 in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County of carrying a concealed weapon without a state license or other lawful authorization.

According to a separate two-count indictment filed, Robert Starcher, 29, of Spencer, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen firearms. The two-count indictment alleges that on January 1, 2012, Starcher possessed six firearms near Walton, Roane County. Starcher was previously convicted in September 2007 in the Circuit Court of Ritchie County, West Virginia of transferring stolen goods. Starcher was also previously convicted in January 2007 in the Circuit Court of Calhoun County, West Virginia of grand larceny.

Additionally, Starcher was previously convicted in December 2006 in the Circuit Court of Gilmer County, West Virginia of obtaining property under false pretenses and in March 2006 in the Circuit Court of Braxton County of uttering.

Ulbrich, Hewlett, Tomblin and Fuller face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Linko and Starcher face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The investigations were conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Police Department and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven I. Loew, Joshua Hanks, William King and Blaire Malkin are in charge of the prosecutions.

The matters are being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

(Editor’s note: The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.)