Pittsburgh Man Charged With Trying To Send A Pistol From U.S. To Lebanon

PITTSBURGH – A Stanton Heights man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of smuggling goods from the United States, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on Feb. 18, named Tarek Mohamed Chok, 49, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment presented to the Court, on or about Sept. 18, 2012, Chok knowingly and fraudulently attempted to export and send a Springfield, Model 1911, .45 caliber pistol from the United States to Lebanon.

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 offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Homeland Secuirty conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.