Thomas James Clark, a resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 2 to 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after being convicted of violating federal firearms law. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence.
According to information presented in court, Clark, age 33, was apprehended by law enforcement on January 20, 2024, due to an outstanding arrest warrant related to aggravated assault charges. During the encounter with officers, Clark dropped his belongings, which included an AR-15-style rifle without a serial number, a revolver, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Court records show that Clark had previously been convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County for methamphetamine production and criminal conspiracy. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan.
United States Attorney Troy Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Pennsylvania State Police’s Butler Patrol and Fugitive Apprehension Unit; and the Butler City Police Department for their roles in investigating the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.