SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Maurice Woods, age 33, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for two firearms offenses.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Woods with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number in June 2016. The firearm was a Glock 45mm semi-automatic pistol. The indictment also charges Woods with possession of that firearm after being convicted of a felony.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kingston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Evan Gotlob 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.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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.
Woods faces a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $500,000 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
