Cameo Witherspoon, Illegal Possession of a Loaded Handgun, Pennsylvania 2022

PITTSBURGH, PA – Cameo Witherspoon, 33, formerly of Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood, has admitted to illegally possessing a loaded handgun and ammunition, a crime that lands convicted felons back behind bars. Witherspoon pleaded guilty before Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand, a significant step toward accountability for a man with a lengthy rap sheet.

The case unfolded July 6, 2021, when a Monroeville Police officer attempted a routine traffic stop for expired registration. What started as a simple registration issue quickly spiraled into a chaotic scene. Witherspoon, behind the wheel, initially ignored the officer’s signals, then bolted from the vehicle, aggressively contesting the stop. He allegedly lied about his identity and the location of the vehicle’s registration, frantically locking and unlocking the car, and ultimately dumping the contents of the glove box onto a fanny pack inside.

Suspicious behavior prompted the officer to call in a K-9 unit. The drug dog immediately alerted to the presence of narcotics, giving law enforcement probable cause to search the vehicle. That search yielded a loaded handgun tucked inside the fanny pack. The discovery quickly revealed Witherspoon wasn’t who he claimed to be. He was identified as a fugitive with an active warrant for a parole violation, and, crucially, a convicted felon.

Witherspoon’s criminal history is extensive. Court records show he previously pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery on May 31, 2013, earning a 90-180 month prison sentence. Federal law clearly prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition, a restriction Witherspoon flagrantly ignored. This latest offense adds another layer to a pattern of disregard for the law.

Judge Wiegand has scheduled Witherspoon’s sentencing for March 2, 2023, at 10:00 am. He faces a maximum of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The final sentence will be determined based on the severity of the crime and Witherspoon’s extensive criminal history. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Monroeville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting the case, aiming to deliver a just outcome for a defendant who repeatedly puts public safety at risk. This case serves as a reminder that those illegally possessing firearms will be held accountable.

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