Federal Defendant Charged with Gun Law Violation Ordered Detained Pending Trial

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been ordered detained pending trial, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Earlier today, Cheron Shelton, 33, proceeded to a detention hearing before federal Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. At the close of the hearing, Judge Lenihan determined that no condition or combination of conditions of release could adequately assure the safety of the community and the appearance of the defendant for future court proceedings, and ordered the defendant detained pending trial.

Shelton is charged in a one-count Indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the Indictment, on March 12, 2016, Shelton possessed a firearm and ammunition, namely a Colt Model M4, .22 caliber rifle, knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits any person who has been convicted of a felony from owning a firearm.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas C. Maloney and Brendan T. Conway are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Allegheny County Police Department and the Wilkinsburg Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.