DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Pennsylvania

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Scott W. Brady
, United States Attorney

Brockway Man Stole Pistol then Sold it for Cash and Cocaine

PITTSBURGH - One resident of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to a charge of possession of a stolen firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Douglas Means, age 35, of Brockway, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before Chief United States District Court Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in August of 2016, Means stole a .380 caliber semiautomatic Smith and Wesson pistol from his father’s residence in Brockway, PA. Means kept the firearm for a few weeks before selling it to his drug source Peter DiGiacomo for $400 and one gram of cocaine. The firearm was transferred to a drug dealer in New York, so that it could be resold for more money. The gun was later recovered in New York with the serial number intact. Means wrote a voluntary statement confessing to his conduct.

Chief Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for November 15, 2018. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Chief Judge Conti ordered Means to remain detained pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with a detective from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

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Philadelphia Field Division