Harrisburg Man Indicted On Federal Drug And Firearm Charges

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Andre Hairston, age 34, of Harrisburg, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg on April 20, 2016, on charges of being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a four firearms which were also stolen, selling one of the stolen firearms, possession with the intent to distribute synthetic marijuana and criminal conspiracy.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, the charges arise out of the arrest of Hairston in July 2015 when he sold a stolen handgun. Another stolen handgun was recovered from Hairston’s car. Further investigation led to the recovery of two other stolen handguns and synthetic marijuana that was packaged for distribution.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Violent Crimes Task Force, the Harrisburg Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lower Paxton Township Police, and the Dauphin County Probation and Parole Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

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 each firearm count of the indictment is a 10 year term of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The drug counts of the indictment carry 20 year maximum terms of imprisonment. 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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