Beaver Falls Drug User Charged with Multiple Firearms Law Violations

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The 19-count Indictment named Joshua Snowden, age 25, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, on October 1, 2020; October 3, 2020; and November 10, 2020, Snowden made a false statement to purchase a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer, at the direction of another person and with the intention to deliver it to that person. The grand jury further alleges that at various times between May 2020 and November 2020, Snowden possessed firearms, knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than ten years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.