James Raymond Alberto, Felon In Possession Of A Stolen Firearm, Pennsylvania 2025

A Luzerne County man has been convicted of being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm. James Raymond Alberto, age 36, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was found guilty on May 7, 2025, for the crimes.

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Alberto was found asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle stopped at a stop sign with a line of cars stopped behind him on August 12, 2021. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and discovered a stolen firearm in the glove compartment. During the trial, prosecutors presented the testimony of multiple law enforcement witnesses as well as expert witnesses in the fields of forensic chemistry, serology, DNA science, and criminal drug investigation.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah R. Lloyd and James M. Buchanan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

James Raymond Alberto is currently facing the possibility of a 10-year prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

The case number for this matter was not provided in the source material.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/luzerne-county-man-convicted-being-felon-possession-stolen-firearm