ERIE, Pa. – A Franklin man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced on Wednesday.
The one-count Indictment named Phillip John Dechant, 37, of Buffalo Street, Franklin, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about April 22, 2020, Dechant possessed numerous firearms while being a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
Court documents indicate Dechant pleaded guilty to three second-degree felony counts of receiving stolen property and three third-degree felony firearms violations in Venango County Court of Common Pleas in 2008. He was sentenced to a total of one to two years in Venango County Jail followed by seven years of probation.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
