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 Elijah Javier Rodriguez, age 27, and Javier Justin Rodriguez, age 31, of New York, were sentenced on April 9, 2026 and April 16, 2026, respectively, by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito. Elijah Javier Rodriguez was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment, and Javier Justin Rodriguez to 24 months’ imprisonment, for possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the Rodriguez brothers traveled from Bronx, New York to Dingman’s Shooting Range in Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania on June 29, 2024. At the shooting range, the brothers both completed a declaration falsely representing that they had never been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. They then went on to possess and shoot six different firearms, including an AK-47. Javier Justin Rodriguez had previously been convicted of criminal possession of a weapon, and Elijah Javier Rodriguez had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses – including criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft, and grand larceny.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the New York City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.
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