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 today that Ronald J. Scheu, age 48, of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania,  pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick in Scranton on November 16, 2016, to distributing explosives.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Scheu distributed 119 M-class devices, 26 class 1.3 mortars, and one aerial shell on or about April 28, 2016, without the appropriate license or permit.  During the hearing, Scheu admitted to maintaining a storage locker filled with hundreds of pounds of explosives, and to selling professional grade explosives without an appropriate license.  He also admitted to manufacturing flash powder and explosives at his residence.

The plea remains subject to approval by United States District Court Judge Richard P. Conaboy.  As a condition of his pre-sentencing release, Judge Mehalchick ordered Scheu to dispose of all firearms in his possession.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Carbon County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.

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 penalty under federal law for the charge is 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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