Joseph LaForte, 49, of Haverford, Pennsylvania, is locked up and facing federal time after being indicted on weapons charges stemming from a cache of firearms found in his home. A federal grand jury charged LaForte, a twice-convicted felon, with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person—an offense that carries a maximum sentence of ten years behind bars.
The indictment, unsealed this week, alleges that on July 28, 2020, LaForte knowingly possessed seven firearms: two shotguns, four loaded handguns, and a loaded rifle. All were recovered from his residence during a law enforcement action. As a convicted felon, LaForte is barred under federal law from owning or possessing any firearm or ammunition—making every weapon in his home a federal crime.
LaForte was arrested on August 7, 2020, and swiftly moved to detention by federal prosecutors. The government argued he posed both a flight risk and a danger to the community, citing alarming behavior tied to his Philadelphia-based cash advance business, Par Funding. Authorities say LaForte allegedly made death threats against customers—behavior that helped seal the court’s decision to keep him locked up.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Marilyn Heffley ordered LaForte held without bond following his appearance in federal court. “We’re pleased that the Court recognized that no conditions of release would be sufficient here,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “Joseph LaForte is where he belongs – in prison – and will now face the consequences of his alleged criminal behavior.”
Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, underscored the seriousness: “Joseph LaForte is a previously convicted felon who continues to demonstrate that he is a threat to the community. This indictment is just another example of his disregard for the law.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, with assistance from the Lower Merion Township Police and the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. It’s being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ortiz and Patrick J. Murray. If convicted, LaForte faces up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. An indictment is not a conviction—LaForte is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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