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Cambria County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Violations
Prosecution is Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative
United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, June 18, 2009, that Cory Matthew Gates, a resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of violating federal firearms laws.
Gates, age 32, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines advised the court that on December 27, 2006, Gates possessed .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. In 2001 Gates was convicted in Blair County, Pennsylvania, of the crime of drug trafficking, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing firearms. Drug trafficking is such a crime.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
According to Ms. Buchanan, this case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement, agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.
The Johnstown Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gates.
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