Cambria County Man Convicted on Firearms Violations
Prosecution is Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, December 10, 2009, that on December 9, 2009, after deliberating two-and-one-half hours, a jury of five men and seven women found Ariel L. Jeffers, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, guilty of violating federal firearms laws.

Jeffers, age 32, was tried before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on August 25, 2007, Jeffers possessed a loaded Makarov Arsenal .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. In 2001, Jeffers was convicted in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, of a felony, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a felony from possessing firearms.

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for April 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

According to Mr. Cessar, this case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.

The Johnstown Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation - Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, Pennsylvania State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jeffers.