York Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearms Charges

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney=s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Quan Leroy Gross, age 44, of York, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Gross admitted to possessing a loaded firearm while engaged in drug trafficking in York City. As a previously convicted felon, Gross is prohibited from possessing firearms.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Taylor 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.

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.

Gross faces a mandatory minimum of fifteen years imprisonment. The maximum penalty under federal law is lifetime 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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