Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Licensed Firearms Dealer Charged With Selling 4 Handguns to an Out-of-State Purchaser in Violation of Federal Law
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of West Mifflin, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on a charge of illegal sale of firearms by a licensed dealer to an out-of-state resident, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The one-count Indictment, returned on January 7, named Jamie Chonko, age 34, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about June 19, 2019, Chonko, being a licensed dealer of firearms, willfully sold four handguns to an out-of-state resident knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that, at the time of the sale, the purchaser did not reside in Pennsylvania, where Chonko’s place of business was located. Federal law prohibits sales of handguns by a licensed dealer to an out-of-state resident.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of five 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 offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne M. Saadi is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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