SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Matthias Michael Yuran, age 27, of West Wyoming, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2015 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. in Wilkes-Barre to making false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers in connection with the purchase of 16 firearms.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Yuran was charged in September 2015 with making false statements in connection with gun purchases.  Between September 2014 and February 2015, Yuran made false written statements to firearms dealers in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Bucks Counties. The statements were intended to deceive the dealers. Yuran falsely represented (1) that he was the actual buyer of the firearms and (2) the he was not an unlawful user or addicted to controlled substances, when in fact, he knew (1) that he was not the actual buyer, and (2) that he was an unlawful user of controlled substances.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Wyoming Borough Police Department.  Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Jr.

Yuran faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and fines totaling $250,000.    

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.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is 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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