Henrico man to serve more than 3 years in prison after firearm conviction

A Henrico man was sentenced Dec. 10 to three years and six months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Court documents for the District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia showed that on Oct. 16, 2024, a Richmond Police officer observed Barion Quinto Wright, 25, in Whitcomb Court in the city, and Wright fled the other direction after seeing the officer.

As the officer pursued him, Wright removed a firearm from the pocket of his hoodie and tossed it. After the officer detained Wright, he returned to and recovered the firearm, which was loaded with a round in the chamber and equipped with an extended, 24-round magazine. The firearm had been reported lost or missing Feb. 23, 2024.

At the time of his arrest, Wright had been convicted previously of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (twice), possessing a firearm while possessing a controlled substance, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a previously convicted felon, Wright cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

“Rather than embrace the opportunities afforded him to peacefully return to society, Barion Wright chose once again to acquire and carry a firearm, further endangering our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. “We will not allow convicted criminals to arm themselves and continue to menace our families and neighborhoods.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richmond Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an assistant attorney general with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

The case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the resources of the Department of Justice to address violent crime.