A McKeesport man has been hit with federal charges after a grand jury indicted him for having a cache of firearms and ammo. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh, the indictment, made public yesterday, lays out charges against 49-year-old Richard L. Edwards Jr., accused of illegal gun possession as a previously convicted felon.
Pittsburgh's U.S. Attorney, Eric G. Olshan, stated that on August 9, authorities found Edwards with multiple guns, including a Ruger Security-9 semi-automatic pistol and an assortment of ammunition. Federal law is clear on the matter. It forbids anyone with a felony conviction from holding firearms or ammunition, setting a potential maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a $250,000 fine for violators. Edwards' arrest by the McKeesport Police Department was part of a concerted effort between local and federal authorities to tackle gun violence in communities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is championing the government's case. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Westmoreland County Adult Probation, and city police, showing the multi-layered approach to clamping down on gun crime.
