DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 17, 2018
David J. Freed
, United States Attorney
Contact: Dawn Mayko

Hazleton Man Pleads Guilty to Making Straw Purchases of Firearms

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Arce Nunez, age 26, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to the charge of making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Nunez admitted to providing false information regarding the purchase of three firearms from Nimrod Haven Sporting Goods, in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, on February 15, 2016. One of the firearms purchased by Nunez was later recovered by police in Puerto Rico.

A sentencing date for Nunez has not yet been scheduled.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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 for these offenses is ten years’ imprisonment, 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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Philadelphia Field Division