Pike County Man Sentenced To 18 Months’ Imprisonment For Possessing An Unregistered Firearm

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jonny Contreras, age 36, of Pike County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on October 2, 2026, to 18 months' imprisonment by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for possession of an unregistered firearm. The court also ordered Contreras to serve a two-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on or about January 14, 2025, Contreras possessed an AR-15 style rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law. The U.S. Attorney said that Contreras pleaded guilty in May 2026.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") and the Pike County District Attorney's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.