Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on April 24, 2019, United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Theodore O. Wing, age 52, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to 63 months’ imprisonment and a two-year term of supervised release, for aiding and abetting false statements in the purchase of firearms.

 

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Wing’s daughter, Jasmine Wing, purchased five firearms while making false representations that she was the actual buyer, when in fact Theodore Wing and his co-conspirators selected, paid for, and took possession of the firearms. The firearms were purchased from Bob’s Sporting Goods in Hazleton, PA, and from Dave’s Gun Shop in Drums, PA, between September 19, 2014 and March 19, 2015. The firearms were:

 

Two of the firearms subsequently were recovered in law enforcement operations, including one that had been used in a shooting in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in February 2015. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Munley highlighted Theodore Wing’s lengthy criminal history, willingness to involve his own daughter in this offense, and his attempts to persuade his daughter to lie to investigating law enforcement officials. Theodore Wing has remained in custody pursuant to this matter and an unrelated state sentence for a narcotics trafficking conviction.

 

The United States previously filed a criminal information and plea agreement with Jasmine Wing, who was charged with making false statements in the course of purchasing six firearms (including the five charged against Theodore Wing). Jasmine Wing pleaded guilty on August 9, 2017, and is awaiting sentencing.

 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.

 

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. The Department of Justice 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.