Harshpreet Singh, a 25-year-old Indian national illegally present in the United States, pleaded guilty on Mar. 26 to possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the country, according to United States Attorney David Metcalf. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Catherine Henry.
Singh was indicted in October of last year following an incident that occurred on August 28, 2024. Authorities responded to a reported home invasion and shooting at a residence in Bethel, Pennsylvania. Around the same time, police received information about a gunshot victim at a nearby gas station less than half a mile from the residence.
Law enforcement found A.S., who is charged elsewhere, inside a vehicle at the gas pumps with a gunshot wound to the torso. Singh and another co-defendant were also present in the vehicle. After A.S. was taken for medical treatment, officers searched around the gas station and discovered two loaded firearms—a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an unmarked privately manufactured firearm—across the street from the scene. Another loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was located at the yard of the home where the invasion had been reported.
Forensic testing conducted on all three firearms identified DNA profiles consistent with four contributors; Singh was included as one possible contributor among them.
Singh is scheduled for sentencing on July 9 and faces up to 15 years' imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine if convicted on all charges.
The case forms part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on addressing illegal immigration and violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts nationwide.
