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Press Release

McKees Rocks Woman Sentenced for Helping a Felon Get 2 Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, on her conviction of aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge David Cercone imposed the sentence on Talaya Thompkins, 36.

According to information presented to the court, from on or about August 27, 2016, and continuing thereafter to on or about August 7, 2017, Talaya Thompkins unlawfully aided and abetted Vincent Eggleton’s possession of firearms. Thompkins purchased the two firearms in August 2016 and February 2017 and made them available to Eggleton. Thompkins was aware that Eggleton had a prior felony conviction, which prohibits Eggleton from possessing any firearm.

On March 1, 2018, Eggleton pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, as well as conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a related drug-trafficking charge. On August 1, 2018, Eggleton was sentenced to a total of 10 years and one month in prison on those charges.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam N. Hallowell prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as a federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The task force is headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of members drawn from the Borough of Baldwin Police Department, McKees Rocks Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.

Updated March 11, 2019

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods