Hazleton Woman Charged With Making False Statements In The Purchase Of Six Firearms

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jasmine T. Wing, a resident of Hazleton, PA, was charged on June 16, 2017 in a criminal information with making false statements in the purchase of six firearms in Luzerne County.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Wing, age 25, falsely represented that she was the actual buyer of six firearms purchased from Bob’s Sporting Goods in Hazleton, PA, and from Dave’s Gun Shop in Drums, PA between September 19, 2014 and April 14, 2015. The firearms were:

1. a Glock 19 9mm;

2. a Glock 23 .40 caliber;

3. a Taurus PT745Pro .45acp;

4. an Extar EXP556 5.56;

5. a CAI/Romarm Micro Draco 7.62x39; and

6. a Ruger P91DC .40acp.

The CAI/Romarm Micro Draco is a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine.

The government simultaneously filed a plea agreement with Wing to the alleged charge, which is subject to approval of the court. As part of the plea agreement, Wing stipulated that she knew that her offense would result in the transfer of firearms to a person prohibited from possessing them. A date for Wing’s arraignment has not been set.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.

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 with firearms.

Informations 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 penalties under federal law for the charge are 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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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