Pittsburgh, PA – A Wilkinsburg man admitted in federal court to illegally possessing firearms and trying to obstruct their seizure after investigators uncovered multiple weapons inside a local residence, prosecutors announced.
Javon Pope, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts before U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2025.
According to court filings, FBI agents discovered Pope inside a Wilkinsburg home on November 19, 2019, during the arrest of another individual. Several firearms were spotted in plain view. When agents later searched the residence, they found four firearms in different locations, with one rifle disassembled.
During the raid, Pope was found carrying a digital scale, marijuana, and a cell phone. A search of that phone revealed he had looked up “how long does it take to get a search warrant” earlier that morning, and had exchanged multiple calls with the home’s resident following the initial arrest. Photos on the device also showed Pope posing with some of the recovered firearms.
Pope had two prior felony convictions, making his possession of the weapons illegal under federal law.
Judge Horan will determine his sentence under federal guidelines. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
The FBI led the investigation with assistance from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting the case, which falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation targeting criminal networks.
Key Points
- Javon Pope, 36, of Wilkinsburg, pleaded guilty to firearm possession and obstruction.
- FBI raid in 2019 uncovered four firearms, including one disassembled rifle.
- Pope faces up to 15 years in prison; sentencing set for March 26, 2025.
Federal prosecutors said the case highlights ongoing efforts to disrupt organized criminal activity in western Pennsylvania.