Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating firearm laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The two-count indictment named William Patrick Midberry, aka William Patrick Schmidt, age 37, of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on September 8, 2017 and April 15, 2018, Midberry, a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer who operated the Slippery Rock Outfitters gun dealership, made false entries onto federal firearms purchase forms and sold firearms without performing background checks.

The law provides for a maximum sentence of not more than two years in prison, a fine of not more than $200,000, 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 Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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

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