Washington County Man Indicted on Possession of Firearms Violation

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating the federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The three-count Indictment named Jesse R. Price, 61, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, in and around September 2018, and on or about October 3, 2018, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Price unlawfully possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. The Indictment further alleges that on or about October 12, 2018, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Price unlawfully possessed a firearm and various ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to thirty years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, 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 of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought 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.

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