HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that William Chism, III, age 27, Richard Earl Davis, age 24, and Colby Syhur Grant, age 23, all from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, were indicted on May 3, 2017, by a federal grand jury on charges related to an illegal firearms trafficking operation.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Chism, (from Oct. 28, 2016 to April 26, 2017), Davis and Grant (from April 13-26, 2017) with making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of firearms. The indictment also charges Grant with being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police Street Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy 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 and Criminal Informations 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.
The maximum penalty under federal law for false statements to a firearms dealer is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine; for illegal possession with a firearm by a drug user is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine; for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking is lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine; and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substance is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $1 million 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
