Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PITTSBURGH- On June 14, 2018, a resident of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing firearms, ammunition and body armor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

 

Stanley Patterson, aka Robert Cook, age 65, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.

 

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Patterson’s house at 501 Hulton Street, Carnegie, Pa, was searched pursuant to a search warrant on December 16, 2015 and police located items which included four firearms (one with the serial number obliterated), ammunition for those weapons, and body armor. Patterson has prior convictions for crimes that include Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy, Burglary (two counts), Theft, Receiving Stolen Property and Felony Criminal Trespass. Each of these offenses precludes a person from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law, since they carry a maximum possible penalty of more than 2 years of incarceration. A person is prohibited from possessing body armor under federal law if they have been convicted of a prior crime of violence, such as robbery.

 

Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2018 at 1 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 13 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

 

Pending sentencing, the court remanded the defendant to the Allegheny County Jail. Patterson has several cases listed for trial in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on September 17, 2018.

 

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt, a veteran prosecutor in the Violent Crime and Major Crime Sections of the United States Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Carnegie Police Department, the Allegheny County Police Department and the Allegheny County Fire Marshall conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Patterson. 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.