Pittsburgh Review

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After deliberating for four hours, a federal jury on August 2, 2024, found Erie, Pennsylvania resident Joseph Leonard Stratton-Kiehlmeier guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the transfer of unregistered fully automatic firearms, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

Stratton-Kiehlmeier, 36, was tried before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone in Pittsburgh.

According to evidence presented during the four-day trial, in January 2020, law enforcement learned that Stratton-Kiehlmeier was offering to broker the sale and transfer of illegal, unregistered machineguns. Those firearms – a Yugo rifle with an obliterated serial number and a Tikkakoski submachine gun – were both operable and fully automatic. Pursuant to the National Firearms Act, machineguns must be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. In January 2020, a confidential source, acting under the direction and supervision of federal law enforcement, traveled with Stratton-Kiehlmeier to a barn in Erie County to receive the illegal weapons. During the meeting, which was recorded, the source paid $2,000 for the machineguns, which he turned over to law enforcement after the meeting.

“Joseph Stratton-Kiehlmeier brokered the unlawful sale and transfer of two fully automatic machineguns—weapons that are capable of unleashing devastating violence with a single pull of the trigger,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “The defendant sought to fuel the dangerous black market in illicit firearms, indifferent to who was acquiring these unregistered weapons and what they might do with them. This conduct poses a grave danger to the citizens of Western Pennsylvania, and our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to take these illegal weapons off of our streets.”

“High-powered weapons in the hands of criminals endangers our community and increases the risk for deadly violence,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Public safety is a shared mission, and the FBI and our partners stand committed to protecting the lives of innocent citizens everywhere.”

Assistant United States Attorneys Molly W. Anglin and Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for December 2, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. Under federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and prior criminal history if any.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Safe Streets Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's Office and Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to Stratton-Kiehlmeier's prosecution. A specialist from Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives also testified during trial.

This case is part Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), program bringing together all levels law enforcement communities they serve reduce violent crime gun violence make neighborhoods safer everyone May 26 2021 Department Justice launched violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based core principles fostering trust legitimacy communities supporting community-based organizations help prevent violence occurring first place setting focused strategic enforcement priorities measuring results.