Franklin Resident Sentenced to More Than Three Years of Imprisonment for Firearms Violations

ERIE, Pa. - On January 18, 2024, a resident of Franklin, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 40 months in prison on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Phillip John Dechant, 40, of Franklin.

According to information presented to the court, on or about April 22, 2020, Dechant possessed numerous firearms while being a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dechant.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.