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

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Tremayne James, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty on July 10, 2018, before United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, James possessed a loaded .40 caliber, Smith and Wesson firearm in his Harrisburg residence on December 7, 2017.  James’ 10 year-old nephew found the firearm and it accidentally fired, striking the boy’s six year-old sister in the chest.  The victim was treated at the Hershey Medical Center and survived.    

The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Police Bureau and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford is prosecuting the case.   

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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 for this offense is up to 10 years in prison, 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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