James Thompson, Unregistered Homemade Rifle, Pennsylvania 2020

A former resident of Wexford, PA, has been charged with possession of an unregistered homemade rifle.

James Thompson, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of an unregistered firearm, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Brady.

The one-count Indictment named Thompson as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on July 17, 2020, Thompson called the police to his residence and stated that he had multiple weapons, including guns and knives.

When police arrived on the scene, Thompson exited the residence with a loaded AR15 style rifle, wearing a bulletproof vest, and threatening the use of the weapon. The defendant was taken into custody and law enforcement determined that the rifle was homemade and not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Thompson is currently being housed at a mental health facility pending the resolution of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt, who serves as the office’s Domestic Violence Coordinator, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Northern Regional Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/wexford-man-charged-possessing-unregistered-homemade-rifle