Washington man sentenced for possessing loaded, stolen pistol
A Washington County man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday for violating federal firearms laws.
James Roosevelt Leach, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon to seven years in jail and three years supervised release for possession of a loaded, stolen 9 mm Ruger pistol and a box of ammunition.
Leach, a felon who previously was convicted in Washington County Court of Common Pleas of crimes including rape, robbery and aggravated assault, is prohibited by federal law from carrying a firearm or ammunition.
State police in Washington pulled over Leach during a Dec. 14, 2016, traffic stop and police discovered the gun and ammunition.
Leach admitted to police he bought the gun off the street.
He was sentenced to 84 months in jail, followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, part of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN focuses on the most violent offenders.
State police, Washington County District Attorney’s office, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved in the case.