James Roosevelt Leach, 47, of Washington, Pennsylvania, was hit with a seven-year federal prison sentence Thursday for being caught with a loaded, stolen 9mm Ruger pistol—proof, prosecutors say, that violent felons remain a threat the moment they return to the streets.
U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon handed down the 84-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, after Leach pleaded guilty to federal charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The conviction stems from a December 14, 2016 traffic stop by Pennsylvania State Police near the City of Washington in Washington County.
During that stop, troopers discovered the loaded weapon and a box of 9mm ammunition in Leach’s possession. The firearm was quickly traced and confirmed as stolen—a detail that compounded the seriousness of the crime. Federal law prohibits any individual convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition, and Leach’s criminal history is anything but minor.
Leach has prior convictions in Washington County Court of Common Pleas for rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—violent offenses that stripped him of his constitutional right to bear arms. Despite that, he was found armed and on the move in a vehicle, raising alarms among law enforcement about repeat violent offenders circumventing federal restrictions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s signature initiative targeting violent crime. PSN relies on coordinated crackdowns, data-driven enforcement, and local partnerships to dismantle cycles of violence—particularly among high-risk offenders like Leach.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady credited the Pennsylvania State Police, Washington County District Attorney’s Office, and ATF agents for their joint work in securing the conviction. “A felon in possession of a loaded, stolen gun is not a minor offense—it’s a public safety time bomb,” Brady said. “This sentence reflects our commitment to removing dangerous individuals from our communities.”
Related Federal Cases
- Zackory James Sadler Pleads Guilty to Federal Escape · Washington
- PA Joins 18 States to Defend Gun Age Limits · Pennsylvania
- DC Felon Turman Gets 28 Months for Loaded Gun · Washington
- Valley Felons Busted with Illegal Firearms · Washington
- Keion Washington Sentenced · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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