Harrisburg resident Jerome King, 29, was indicted November 2, 2016, on federal charges for possession of a short-barreled shotgun, a weapon stripped of its serial number and built for concealment and violence. The arrest caps a joint investigation by federal and city authorities determined to root out illegal firearms in Pennsylvania’s crime-ridden urban corridors.
King was taken into custody after law enforcement observed him in possession of the modified firearm, a weapon that falls under strict federal regulation due to its ease of concealment and frequent use in violent crime. Not only was the shotgun illegally shortened, it bore no identifiable serial number—making it untraceable and a prime tool for criminals looking to operate in the shadows.
As a convicted felon, King is legally barred from owning or handling any firearm. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing guns under any circumstance, but the added violations here—possession of a short-barreled shotgun and an obliterated serial number—ratchet up the severity. Each charge exposes him to decades behind bars if convicted.
The case was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in tandem with the Harrisburg Police Department. It falls under the umbrella of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a sweeping federal initiative targeting gun violence through coordinated crackdowns, intelligence sharing, and aggressive prosecution across the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case, which will now move toward trial in federal court. U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler emphasized that the indictment is not a conviction—King is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But the government’s message is clear: illegal firearms, especially those modified to evade detection, will be met with maximum legal force.
If found guilty, King faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a term of supervised release, and steep fines. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the judge will weigh the crime’s seriousness, King’s criminal history, and the need for public protection. While life is the statutory top, real-world sentencing depends on a complex calculus. Still, one thing is certain—this case is a bullet point in a broader war on violent gun crime.
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Related Federal Cases
- Alexis McDonald Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- James William McMichael Admits to Illegal Machinegun Possession · Pennsylvania
- Timothy Anderson, 26, Cuffed for Illegal Gun Possession · Pennsylvania
- John Jacob Hasay Gets 24 Months for Illegal Machinegun Possession · Pennsylvania
- Johnstown’s Sean Zachary Horton, 29, Cuffed for Illegal Firearm Possession · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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