Wilkes-Barre Teen Charged in Gun Straw Purchase

A 19-year-old Wilkes-Barre man has been charged in a federal straw purchase scheme after allegedly lying to a licensed gun dealer during the acquisition of a firearm, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Ruben Rosario, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was named in a Criminal Information filed October 31, 2016, in U.S. District Court in Scranton. The charge stems from a transaction on April 5, 2016, at Piestrak’s Gun Shop in Nanticoke, where Rosario allegedly provided false information to facilitate the purchase of a firearm—actions that violate federal law.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation into the transaction. According to court documents, Rosario made material misrepresentations on federally required forms, a felony offense punishable by up to ten years in prison, a fine, and supervised release upon conviction.

Accompanying the Criminal Information, prosecutors filed a plea agreement with Rosario, which remains subject to judicial approval. No date has been set for the entry of a guilty plea. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

The charge is part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement initiative targeting violent offenders across the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the VCRP focuses on intercepting illegal firearms and prosecuting those who fuel gun violence.

As with all federal cases, Rosario is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, the court will impose a sentence based on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors, including the nature of the offense and defendant’s background. The maximum penalty carries ten years in prison, but actual sentencing will depend on multiple judicial considerations.