⏱ 2 min read
William Jermaine Rodgers III, a 29-year-old New Kensington resident and convicted felon, was caught with a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition in a Pittsburgh home on July 1, 2025. Rodgers, who had been on the run since at least February 2025, was found in a second-story master bedroom in the Knoxville neighborhood. Law enforcement recovered the firearm and ammo from between the mattress and box spring of the bed. Rodgers’ prior convictions include federal felony drug offenses in Indiana, Westmoreland, and Allegheny counties, as well as a felony offense for issuing terroristic threats in Westmoreland County.
Rodgers pleaded guilty to a one-count Indictment charging him with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The guilty plea was entered before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rodgers.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to combat violent crime. Rodgers’ sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2026, and he faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The federal Sentencing Guidelines will be used to determine the actual sentence imposed, taking into account the seriousness of the offense and Rodgers’ prior criminal history.
Related Federal Cases
- Sie Merriman, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, IN 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Gregory Greer, Possessing Stolen Firearm, FL 2017 · Florida
- Jeremy D Stidham, Gun Theft and Sales Conspiracy, KY 2017 · Pennsylvania
- Altavious Demon Jackson, Ammunition Possession, AL 2019 · Alabama
- Diante Colthirst, Firearm Possession by Convicted Felon, Ohio 2024 · Pennsylvania
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Weapons
- Defendant: Pennsylvania
- Location: PA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
