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Date: 10-12-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 3:21-cr-00268
Judge: Malachy E. Mannion
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (Lackawanna County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Scranton
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Scranton, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with giving false statements in connection with acquisition of firearms.
Quinniea Gross, age 27, of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy and straw purchasing firearms in July 2023. Gross accompanied a drug addict to several firearms dealers in Northeastern Pennsylvania and took possession of firearms purchased by her coconspirator. Gross did so for drug traffickers to whom the drug addict owned money for a drug debt. Gross also purchased four firearms herself, two of which were seized in an unrelated drug trafficking investigation in Philadelphia. Coconspirator Christian Barnes was sentenced to 15 months in prison on August 1, 2023, for conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the acquisition of eight firearms.
In addition to the 3-year prison term, Judge Mannion ordered Gross to serve a 2-year term of supervised release, and to pay $400 in special assessments and court fees.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Gallagher and Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
CONSPIRACY TO MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS IN THE ACQUISITION OF FIREARMS
(1)
MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS IN THE ACQUISITION OF FIREARMS
(2-4)
Outcome: Defendant is committed to the custody of the US BOP to be imprisoned for a term of 36 months. This term consists of terms of 36 months on each of Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 all to run concurrently. Defendant shall pay a special assessment of $100, on each count, for a total of $400, due immediately. Defendant found not to have the ability to pay a fine, so it is waived. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be placed on supervised release for a term of 2 years. This term consists of two years on each count, to run concurrently.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: