Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
A Pittsburgh resident, Kenneth Gaines, has admitted guilt in federal court for possessing a firearm and ammunition despite being a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti made the announcement regarding Gaines' plea.
Gaines, aged 34, entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. The court was informed that on February 15, 2024, Gaines was found with a stolen firearm and magazine while he was under federal supervised release due to prior felony convictions. It is against federal law for convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition.
Sentencing is set for May 12, 2025. According to the law, Gaines could face up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. The sentence will consider the severity of the crime and Gaines' criminal history as per federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Ball and Kelly M. Locher are handling the prosecution of this case on behalf of the government. The investigation that led to these proceedings was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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