Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offense

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty in federal court on a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Darby Donta Tigney, 24, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

In connection with the guilty plea, on October 14, 2018, Tigney illegally possessed a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun. Tigney had been convicted of the felony offense of Possession of a Firearm with an Altered Serial Number in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County just three months earlier on July 30, 2018. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 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 offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pittsburgh Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Darby Donta Tigney.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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.