A McKees Rocks man has been handed a 51-month prison sentence for violating federal firearm laws, announced United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan. Darnell Maurice Manson, 23, was sentenced on July 23rd by United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand, following a guilty plea for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Following his prison term, Manson will be under three years of supervised release, as detailed in a press release obtained by the Department of Justice.
Following a traffic stop that led to a search warrant on August 8, 2021, Brentwood Borough Police found a Smith & Wesson Model 9 M&P Shield, 9mm caliber pistol, and 9mm ammunition in the vehicle Manson was driving that was possessed by Manson. They also discovered stamp bags of heroin. Manson had been previously convicted for several felonies in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas linked to behavior in October 2018, thus federal laws prohibit him from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
The case reached federal court where, on February 2, 2023, Manson was indicted by a grand jury in Pittsburgh. Later that year on October 4, Manson entered a guilty plea, admitting to his violation of federal firearms law. The press release states that Manson's federal sentence will also be concurrently served with a 24-month sentence for breaching the conditions of his state parole.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey was the lead prosecutor on this case, which stems from the collective efforts of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is an initiative designed to diminish violent crime and gun violence, enhancing safety within communities with the support of law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the Department’s strategy, launched on May 26, 2021.
