James Alberto, a 38-year-old resident of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a stolen firearm. The sentencing took place on January 8, 2025, before United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Alberto was found guilty on May 7, 2025, after a three-day jury trial. Evidence showed that on August 12, 2021, law enforcement officers discovered Alberto asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle at a stop sign with his foot on the brake and several cars lined up behind him. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a stolen firearm in the glove compartment.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department (WBPD), and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah R. Lloyd and James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
“This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results,” according to information provided by officials.