Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted Jerome King on November 2, 2016, for possession of a short-barreled shotgun.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, King, a 29-year-old resident of Harrisburg, was arrested after he was seen possessing a short-barreled shotgun that did not have an identifiable serial number. Possession of a short-barreled shotgun violates federal law if the firearm is not properly registered or if the firearm does not have an identifiable serial number, and as a convicted felon, King is prohibited from possessing any firearm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Harrisburg Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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