Harrisburg Man Yamil Mediavilla-Diaz Indicted on Felon Firearm Charge

Harrisburg streets spun into danger when Yamil Mediavilla-Diaz, 30, allegedly strapped up with an AR-15 — a weapon he’s forbidden by law to touch. On August 19, 2016, authorities say Mediavilla-Diaz, a previously convicted felon, was found in unlawful possession of the semi-automatic rifle and accompanying ammunition in the heart of the Pennsylvania capital. That act now carries a federal indictment handed down February 22, 2017.

The federal grand jury in the Middle District of Pennsylvania didn’t mince words: Mediavilla-Diaz is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a direct violation of U.S. law. The charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years behind bars, a fine, and mandatory supervised release if convicted. The case underscores the federal government’s aggressive stance on armed felons flooding communities with high-powered weaponry.

Law enforcement moved fast, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) teaming up with Harrisburg City Police to build the case. Their collaboration cut through local crime networks, targeting repeat offenders wielding military-style rifles. The operation falls under the umbrella of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a district-wide task force aimed at dismantling violent firearm activity through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is leading the prosecution, vowing to hold Mediavilla-Diaz accountable under the full weight of federal statute. “When someone with a felony record grabs an AR-15, it’s not just illegal — it’s a threat to every resident in that neighborhood,” said a DOJ spokesperson. “We’re not looking the other way.”

But the wheels of justice turn slow. Mediavilla-Diaz remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The federal sentencing guidelines demand that the presiding judge weigh the nature of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, and broader public safety concerns before imposing a sentence. The statutory maximum of ten years is just a ceiling — the actual time served could vary widely.

The message from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Bruce D. Brandler, is clear: armed felons will be hunted, charged, and prosecuted. The VCRP continues to cast a wide net, targeting those who turn Pennsylvania neighborhoods into battlegrounds. Mediavilla-Diaz’s case is just one front in a larger war against gun violence.