Frank Thomas Diviak, 24, from Altoona, was handed a five-year federal prison sentence by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber for possessing and stealing a firearm, both actions a violation given his status as a convicted felon. The decision was delivered after Diviak pled guilty to the charges in April 2024, according to the Department of Justice.
Diviak's criminal record includes three state felonies, among them aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing or attempting to evade law enforcement. On a day that turned out to be ill-fated for him, December 4, 2023, he walked into a Lake County pawnshop. There, he pocketed a revolver from a display before hastily exiting the establishment on his bicycle. His freedom, however, was short-lived as law enforcement officials managed to apprehend him shortly after the incident. In a clumsy conclusion to his attempt at flight, as Diviak raised his arms to surrender, the stolen revolver slipped from his clothing, according to a statement obtained by the Department of Justice website.
Involvement in the case came from multiple quarters, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eustis Police Department spearheading the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk took on the role of prosecutor.
