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

WILKES-BARRE - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kassandra Mattox, age 25, of Tobyhanna, Monroe County, pleaded guilty on August 1, 2018, before United States District Court Senior Judge A. Richard Caputo to making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer in connection with the purchase of multiple firearms.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Mattox admitted to providing false information regarding the purchase of two firearms from Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitter, in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, on October 27, 2016.  One of the firearms purchased by Mattox was recovered by police during a traffic stop in Monroe County involving another individual.  Mattox was previously indicted by a grand jury in September 2017.

A sentencing date for Mattox has not yet been scheduled.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department also participated in the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara 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 under federal law for these offenses is ten years’ 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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