Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Pittsburgh Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing a Gun with an Obliterated Serial Number
PITTSBURGH – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging a resident of Pittsburgh with violations of federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
The two-count superseding indictment, returned on February 6, named Nazim Burton, age 41, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the superseding indictment, on June 24, 2017, Burton illegally possessed a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number. Burton has previously been convicted of a felony, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
For possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the law provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years up to a maximum of life 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 of the defendant.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.