Benton Man Charged With Illegal Machinegun Possession

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that John Jacob Hasay, age 21, of Benton, Pennsylvania, was charged in a criminal information with the illegal possession of a machinegun.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the information alleges that Hasay possessed a Glock 19 9mm bearing an auto sear from October 22, 2017 through August 23, 2018.  Law enforcement identified Hasay after he posted content in online forums espousing racist, white supremacist, and Nazi ideologies, and threatened to commit a hate crime.

The information also seeks forfeiture of several firearms, ammunition, and firearms components, including:

1. Glock 19 9mm bearing an auto sear;
2. CAA Model G3, Micro Roni pistol carbine conversion bearing a scope;
3. IWI Model MP Uzi bearing a shortened barrel (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine);
4. GSG Model 522 bearing a shortened barrel and a Black and Brown optic (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine);
5. Charter Arms Model AR-7 Explorer bearing a shortened barrel (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine);
6. Mossberg Model 500A bearing a shortened barrel;
7. I.O. Inc. Sporter bearing a suppressor (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine); and
8. two suppressors.

Hasay has remained in detention since his arrest on August 23, 2018.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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