Elijah Javier Rodriguez, 27, and Javier Justin Rodriguez, 31, both from New York, were sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito on April 9 and April 16 for possessing firearms as convicted felons. Elijah Javier Rodriguez received a sentence of 33 months in prison, while Javier Justin Rodriguez was sentenced to 24 months.
The case highlights the enforcement of federal firearm laws and the ongoing efforts to promote community safety through prosecution of such offenses. The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania promotes community safety through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods and re-entry services that reduce recidivism, according to the official website.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the two brothers traveled from Bronx, New York to Dingman’s Shooting Range in Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania on June 29, 2024. At the range, they falsely declared that they had never been convicted of crimes punishable by more than one year imprisonment before possessing and shooting six different firearms including an AK-47. Court records show that Javier Justin Rodriguez had a prior conviction for criminal possession of a weapon while Elijah Javier Rodriguez had previous felony convictions including criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft and grand larceny.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York City Police Department investigated this case with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd.
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania operates under the United States Department of Justice according to its official website. The office maintains facilities in Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre as reported by its official website. It serves about 3.2 million residents across a jurisdiction covering approximately 21,907 square miles in central Pennsylvania according to its official website.
The office prosecutes federal crimes such as this case involving illegal firearm possession while also managing civil litigation for the government and providing victim assistance programs according to its official website.
