Additional Charges Filed Against Schuylkill County Man Previously Charged With Threatening The President

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment yesterday adding seven additional charges against Shawn Christy, age 27, of McAdoo, who was previously indicted for threatening to harm President Trump and others.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the superseding indictment charges Christy with interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, two counts of interstate transportation of a stolen firearm, two counts of interstate transportation of a firearm while under a felony information, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive.

The superseding indictment also contains the four threat offenses that were charged in the original indictment, including the threat against President Trump.

The superseding indictment alleges that Christy committed the new offenses between July 25, 2018 and August 20, 2018.

The threat to President Trump is being investigated by United States Secret Service, and the other charges are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Butler Township Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each of the unlawful possession of firearms offenses and the interstate transportation of stolen firearms offenses is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the interstate transportation of stolen vehicle offense is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the interstate transportation of firearms while under a felony information is five years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for each threat offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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