Dauphin County man receives over nine years in prison for firearm offense

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John C. Gurganus Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | Department of Justice

Dauphin County man receives over nine years in prison for firearm offense

Philip Shearer, a 49-year-old resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 115 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing an unregistered firearm. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick on July 14, 2025.

According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Shearer pleaded guilty to possessing a privately-manufactured short-barrel rifle that was not registered. Authorities also found over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, several high-capacity magazines, night vision goggles, and a ghillie suit at his home in Harrisburg. Shearer has a criminal history that includes 14 prior convictions—five for driving under the influence, one for indecent assault, and one for domestic violence. He had previously been denied the purchase of firearms due to his background check and subsequently manufactured firearms himself.

"The sentencing of Philip Shearer emphasizes the serious dangers posed by felons who unlawfully possess and manufacture firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to collaborating with our law enforcement partners, like ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to ensure that dangerous criminals with a history of violence are not allowed to possess firearms."

“Protecting our communities from dangerous criminals like Philip Shearer is a top ATF priority,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division. “With 14 criminal convictions, including multiple driving under the influence, indecent assault, and a domestic violence conviction, the law duly prohibits him from owning the unregistered short-barrel rifle he manufactured for himself after he was prevented from buying a firearm. Working with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are making our communities safer one case at a time.”

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes prosecuted the case.

This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues as well as targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime through coordinated efforts involving programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).