Amaad Maliek Ali, Firearms Lie and Passport Fraud, Pennsylvania 2017

Amaad Maliek Ali, 48, a former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearms laws and making a false statement in an application for a United States passport.

Ali pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter on April 25, 2019.

According to court records, on April 7, 2018, Ali falsified his application for the purchase of a firearm and lied about his prior felony convictions. A National Instant Criminal Background Check was made and Ali was rejected for the firearm purchase because of his prior criminal record.

In connection with the guilty plea on the false statement charge, the court was advised that on April 18, 2017, Ali made a false statement on a United States passport application by stating that his social security number was 000-00-0000.

Ali's sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The investigation that led to the prosecution of Ali was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Erie Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/erie-felon-lied-firearms-purchase-and-passport-applications-forms