Mountaintop Woman Sentenced For Firearm Offense

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sierra Benninger, age 26, of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 29, 2021, to time served of 8 ½ months by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for providing false statements to purchase a firearm.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Benninger pleaded guilty and admitted that she provided false statements to purchase a Taurus 9mm handgun, which she was prohibited from possessing as a person who used and was addicted to a controlled substance. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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