New Kensington Resident Sentenced for Straw Purchasing of Multiple Firearms

This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to time served, to be followed by one year of home detention, on her three convictions for violating federal firearms laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Barbara Miller, 33, on October 16, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on three different dates during 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Miller acted as a straw purchaser when buying firearms from several federally licensed firearms dealers by stating that the firearms were being purchased for herself, when she was actually purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person.

Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Miller.