Andre Hairston, Gun Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2016

HARRISBURG – Harrisburg Man Andre Hairston, 34, Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge

HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg man Andre Hairston, 34, was indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg in April 2016 on drug trafficking and firearm charges. He pled guilty on June 16, 2016, before United States District Court Judge William W. Caldwell.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Hairston pled guilty to a charge of being a convicted felon illegally in possession of four firearms, which were also stolen. The charges in the indictment arose out of the arrest of Hairston on July 16, 2015, in Harrisburg when he sold a stolen handgun to a cooperating individual. Another stolen handgun was recovered from Hairston’s car.

Further investigation led to the October 23, 2015, search of an apartment in Lower Paxton Township that resulted in the recovery of two other stolen handguns and synthetic marijuana that was packaged for distribution.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Violent Crimes Task Force, the Harrisburg Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lower Paxton Township Police, and the Dauphin County Probation and Parole Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.

Hairston’s crime is part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district-wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The penalty under federal law for this offense is a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Hairston is facing a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine for his crime.

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