Man sentenced for straw gun purchases
A Monongahela man will serve six months in a federal halfway house after making multiple straw purchases of firearms for a friend.
Ronald DeGrange, 47, will serve six months at the Renewal Center in Pittsburgh followed by six months of home detention after he was convicted of buying guns for a convicted felon four times.
He was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose and also will be supervised for two years when he is released from the halfway house.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton said DeGrange bought a 12-gauge shotgun for the friend who was addicted to a controlled substance, and provided false information during the purchase. He then sold the shotgun and other firearms, including an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, to the friend.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Haller prosecuted the case, and the Pennsylvania State Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.