Reading Man Charged with Purchasing Firearm for a Juvenile

Maximo Velez, 26, of Reading, PA., was charged today by indictment with false statements to a federal firearms licensee and transfer of a firearm to a juvenile, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.  The indictment alleges that on or about September 26, 2015, Velez made a false statement to a federal firearm licensee during the purchase of a firearm, wherein he falsely certified that he was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when in fact, as he knew at the time that he was making the purchase for a juvenile.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery W. Whitt.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.