Montgomery County Man Convicted of Lying to Illegally Obtain Firearm

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Laurence Reinhard, 74, of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania was convicted at trial of one count of making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee.

In 2014, the defendant pleaded guilty to providing malicious false information about an explosive and engaging in a hoax.  As part of that guilty plea, he acknowledged that he would not be permitted to possess a firearm as a result of his felony convictions.  

On March 10, 2018, he attempted to purchase a firearm, specifically a Smith and Wesson model 642 CT, .38 caliber from a federal firearms licensee.  The defendant falsely stated that he had never been convicted of a felony on his application for the weapon.

“For good reasons, the United States regulates who is permitted to purchase and carry firearms -- it is a matter of maintaining public safety,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “In this case, the defendant – a previously convicted felon – lied in order to illegally obtain a weapon.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their quick work in investigating this case and the jury for holding the defendant accountable for his crime.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.