Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of federal firearms violations, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The two-count Indictment, returned on Dec. 12, named Thomas George Stanko, 48, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, from on or about April 12, 2018 through on or about August 29, 2018, Stanko unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition, after having been convicted of multiple crimes punishable by more than one year in prison. In total, Stanko unlawfully possessed 17 firearms. Those convictions related to retaliation against a witness or victim, criminal conspiracy, firearms not to be carried without a license, receipt of stolen property, and forgery. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 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.

Assistant United States Attorney Christy Criswell Wiegand is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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