Reading Man Rodney Cossari Cuffed for Illegal Firearm Hoard

Rodney Cossari, a man with ties to both Reading and Shamokin, Pennsylvania, is staring down federal time after being indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The charges, announced by Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen, expose a cache of weapons stockpiled by a man legally barred from owning a single round.

The indictment doesn’t mince words—Cossari allegedly held onto a full arsenal. Among the haul: a Jennings .22 LR J-22 pistol, serial 339961; a Tanfoglio 9mm Luger BTA90, serial G24223; an IMI UZI-A carbine rifle, 9mm Luger, serial SA17418; and a Harrington & Richardson .32 S&W revolver, Model 732, serial AL14647. Also seized: a Smith & Wesson .38 Special Model 10-4, serial C587826, and a heavily modified Bushmaster M4A3 rifle, serial BFI49077, equipped with a Trijicon ACOG scope.

Adding to the firepower, Cossari is accused of possessing a Colt AR15A2 rifle, serial SP222848, and two fifty-round boxes of CCI Quiet .22LR ammunition. The weapons span decades in design and purpose—from compact concealable pistols to military-style rifles—painting a picture of deliberate, sustained accumulation.

As a convicted felon, Cossari is prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Prosecutors say he violated that law repeatedly and with full awareness. Each count of felon in possession carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. If convicted on both counts, the penalties stack fast.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, tracking down the weapons and building the case. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley S. Bonney is leading the prosecution, signaling the feds are treating this as more than a paperwork error—it’s a deliberate breach of public safety.

An indictment is not a conviction. Rodney Cossari is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But with this many guns, in the hands of someone with a criminal past, authorities aren’t taking chances. The message in this case is clear: break the gun laws, and the feds will come knocking—with handcuffs and a federal docket number ready.