News and Press Releases

Braddock Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Illegally Possessing Rifle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2011

PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ A resident of Braddock, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch imposed the sentence yesterday on Otto Harris, 34.

According to information presented to the court, on June 1, 2009, Harris, a convicted felon, possessed a CETME .308 caliber rifle. Since Harris has previously been convicted of a felony offense, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm.

Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Swartz prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Munhall Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Otto Harris.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.

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