WILKES-BARRE - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ruben Rosario, age 19, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., in Wilkes-Barre, to the charge of making false statements to a federally licensed firearm dealer.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Rosario admitted that he and another individual provided false information regarding the purchase of a semi-automatic.22 caliber pistol from Piestrak’s Gun Shop, LLC, in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, on April 5, 2016. Rosario paid another individual to purchase the firearm for him and to falsify the paperwork in connection with the sale.
Rosario will appear for sentencing before United States Senior District Judge Richard P. Conaboy in Scranton on a date which has not yet been scheduled.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP"), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is ten years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
