Erie Felon Admits Illegally Possessing Pistol

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Vincent Andrew Feliciano, 45, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Feliciano was found in possession of a Springfield Armory .40 caliber pistol in his residence at 918 West 35th Street, Erie, at the time a federal search warrant was being executed. Feliciano is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a convicted felon.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for February 8, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Feliciano. The OCDETF task force includes The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.