Hazleton Man Charged With Firearms Offenses

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Theodore O. Wing, age 50, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was indicted on August 8, 2017, by a federal grand jury on various firearms offenses.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Theodore Wing conspired to have his daughter, Jasmine Wing, purchase five firearms while making false representations that she was the actual buyer, when in fact Theodore Wing and his co-conspirators selected, paid for, and took possession of the firearms. Theodore Wing also was charged with aiding and abetting the false statements on all five occasions that the firearms were purchased from Bob’s Sporting Goods in Hazleton, and from Dave’s Gun Shop in Drums, between September 19, 2014 and March 19, 2015. The firearms were:

• Glock 19 9mm;

• Glock 23 .40 caliber;

• Taurus PT745Pro .45acp;

• Extar EXP556 5.56; and

• CAI/Romarm Micro Draco 7.62x39 (a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine).

As Theodore Wing is a convicted felon, and thus prohibited from owning or possessing firearms, he also was charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Theodore Wing currently is serving a state sentence for a narcotics trafficking conviction. A date for his federal arraignment has not yet been set.

The government previously filed a criminal information and plea agreement with Jasmine Wing, who was charged with making false statements in the course of purchasing six firearms (including the five charged against Theodore Wing). Jasmine Wing pleaded guilty on August 9, 2017, and is awaiting sentencing.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

Indictments 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 penalties under federal law for the most serious charges are 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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