Monroe County Woman Charged With Straw Purchases Of Firearms

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kassandra Mattox, age 25, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was indicted on September 19, 2017, by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of making false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.  The indictment was unsealed yesterday following the arrest of Mattox.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Mattox provided false information regarding the purchase of three firearms from Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter, in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, on October 24 and 27, 2016, and the purchase of three firearms from Pocono Mountain Firearms, in Scotrun, Monroe County, on October 27, 2016 and November 9, 2016.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates all lesson learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Indictments and 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 these offenses is ten years’ 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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