PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Clarion County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a violation of the federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced recently.

The one-count indictment, returned on March 6 and unsealed Wednesday, named Emmett Freshcorn, 29, Ashland Township, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on December 11, 2017, Freshcorn illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition. Freshcorn has previously been convicted of a felony, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

For possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the law provides for not more than 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.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.