Inmate Indicted For Weapon Possession

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Joseph Edwards, age 35, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Allenwood, Pennsylvania (USP Allenwood), was indicted on December 20, 2016, by a federal grand jury for possession of a dangerous weapon.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Edwards was discovered with a sharpened weapon, commonly known as a “shank,” on his person in the prison in August 2016.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.

Indictments 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 this offense is five years of 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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