ERIE, Pa. – In a dramatic turn of events, federal authorities have nabbed a trio accused of orchestrating an illegal firearms scheme in Erie, Pennsylvania. Michael Deniro Hackett, 41, Kathryn Nicole Shaw, 23, and Treasure Ann Gray, 40, all face multiple charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury.
The defendants are alleged to have conspired from March 9, 2020, to July 21, 2020, to violate federal straw purchase laws. They are accused of procuring firearms for Hackett, who was barred from possessing firearms due to prior criminal convictions.
Should they be found guilty, the trio could face substantial penalties. Hackett, the alleged ringleader, is looking at a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison and a fine of $1,250,000 or both. Shaw and Gray each face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $500,000, or both.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers will be handling the prosecution for the government. The Pennsylvania State Police, Conewango Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations have been instrumental in the investigation that led to this groundbreaking indictment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian, both Department of Justice initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and enforcing firearms laws. PSN involves a coalition of stakeholders working together to address community violence, while Project Guardian focuses specifically on gun violence reduction.
It’s important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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