ERIE, Pa. – A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Charles L. McIntosh, 28, pleaded guilty to one count each in two separate cases before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around April 2019, McIntosh possessed two firearms while being a convicted felon. In addition, on or about April 22, 2021, McIntosh possessed three firearms while being a convicted felon and while on federal pretrial release in the 2019 case. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reductions 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 prevent and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for June 30, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of McIntosh.