JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Pray, MT, formerly of Clearfield, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to charges of false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and immediately thereafter was sentenced to five years’ probation and 50 hours of community service for each year of her probation, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Heather L. Welker, 41, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, on various dates from January 28, 2015, to March 26, 2015, Welker purchased a number of firearms from Grice Gun Shop, a federally licensed firearms dealer, stating she was purchasing the firearms for herself, when, in truth and fact, she was not the actual buyer and was purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person.
Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Ms. Song commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Welker.
According to Ms. Song, Heather L. Welker was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.