Uniontown Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing Revolver

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on December 12 and unsealed today, named William Kent Bricker, 55, of 127 Varndell Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on or about September 2, 2012, Bricker, being a convicted felon, illegally possessed a .32 caliber Iver Johnson brand revolver. The indictment states that Bricker was convicted of armed bank robbery in 1993 and illegal firearms possession in 2004. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year to possess a firearm.

The law provides for a maximum 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, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pennsylvania State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.