A 30-year-old Erie man is headed to federal prison after being caught with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun in the middle of the night — a weapon he had no legal right to touch. Mark Anthony Gnacinski Jr., a convicted felon, was sentenced to 32 months in jail for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, the Department of Justice announced.
Gnacinski’s arrest stemmed from a predawn encounter in Erie, Pennsylvania, at approximately 2:30 a.m., when law enforcement discovered him in possession of the shotgun. As a previously convicted felon, federal law bars him from owning or handling any firearms or ammunition — a rule he violated the moment he picked it up.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone handed down the 32-month sentence after Gnacinski was convicted on federal charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini, who argued that the defendant’s criminal history and access to a deadly weapon posed a clear danger to public safety.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that targets gun crime through coordinated action between federal, state, and local agencies. The program focuses on identifying, deterring, and locking up individuals who illegally possess firearms, especially repeat offenders and violent criminals.
Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song praised the work of the Erie Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their roles in investigating the case. ‘This sentence sends a message,’ Song stated. ‘If you’re a felon and you’re caught with a gun, federal time is guaranteed.’
Gnacinski now begins his 32-month sentence in federal custody, the latest conviction in a broader crackdown on illegal firearms in northwestern Pennsylvania. Authorities say they’ll continue targeting armed felons through intelligence-led policing and federal prosecution under strict gun laws.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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