Monroe County Man Convicted Of Making Straw Purchases Of Firearms

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Delvin Hutchinson, age 33, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was convicted of three counts of making false statements in connection with the purchase of six firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Hutchinson purchased six firearms in three separate transactions at Dunkelberger's Sports Outfitter, in Stroudsburg, within a 19-day period in March 2019. When investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later interviewed Hutchinson, he was in possession of none of the firearms and claimed that some of the firearms had been stolen. Testimony presented at trial showed that Hutchinson's story regarding the theft was false and that he had "straw purchased" the firearms for one or more other individuals. In connection with the purchase of the firearms, Hutchinson completed federal forms in which he falsely stated that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when in fact he was purchasing the firearms for one or more other individuals. Hutchinson was convicted of three counts of providing false information to Dunkelberger's Sports Outfitter regarding the purchase of the firearms.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bensalem Police Department also participated in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O'Hara and Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each of the offenses is ten years' imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

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