Two Federal Inmates Charged With Possession Of Weapons

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dion Antwain Kinnear, age 29, and Kristian Torres, age 31, both prisoners at United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg (USP Lewisburg), were indicted separately on August 10, 2017, by a federal grand jury for possessing weapons in prison.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictments allege that Kinnear was found in possession of an improvised “shank” during a search conducted on May 27, 2017. Torres was found in possession of multiple “shanks” on June 15, 2017.

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan VanFleet is prosecuting the cases.

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.

Both defendants are facing a maximum of five years of incarceration and a $250,000 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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