Penn Hills Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charges

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

Erick Lamont Griffin, Jr., a/k/a Ericc Bucc, age 23, of Penn Hills, Pa, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge David Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Griffin was previously convicted of felony drug dealing charges on November 18, 2013. Although federal law prohibits persons with a conviction for a crime punishable by more than 1 year of incarceration from possessing firearm or ammunition, Griffin accompanied a purchaser of firearms to a gun dealer on four separate dates: March 24, 2016; June 4, 2016; June 11, 2016; and June 13, 2016. In a scenario law enforcement officers call a “straw-purchase” of firearms, Griffin took possession of the two 9 mm and two 40 caliber semiautomatic pistols the same day that they were purchased and kept them until they were recovered by police.

On July 13, 2016, Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a federal search warrant at Griffin’s house and located items which included manufacturer’s boxes (complete with the serial numbers of the firearms), extra magazines for two of the pistols, a holster, ammunition, and indicia of residency for Mr. Griffin. Federal agents had previously located a picture of a Taurus pistol that Griffin illegally purchased just two weeks earlier when checking his Facebook page.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for Friday, November 17, 2017, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of his crimes and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court remanded Griffin to the custody of the United States Marshal Service noting that Griffin was on probation in Allegheny County at the time of his crimes.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt of the Violent Crimes Section is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The ATF conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Griffin.