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 Victor Santiago-Rivera, age 42, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, was convicted on October 19, 2017, of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a three-day jury trial held before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion.

 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, beginning in December 2016, Santiago-Rivera, who has multiple felony convictions in his criminal history, repeatedly requested that an individual obtain a gun for him to use in a robbery of a local jewelry store.  That individual was a confidential informant and contacted law enforcement.  On January 6, 2017, law enforcement agents monitored the controlled exchange of the firearm to Santiago-Rivera.  The jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict on one count of attempted robbery.

 

The investigation was conducted by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kingston Borough Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Phillip Caraballo prosecuted the case.

 

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.

 

A sentence following a finding or guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable Federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.   

 

Santiago-Rivera is facing a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum possible penalty of life 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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