Cumberland Co. Man Admits to His Role in Illegally Obtaining Guns

A man from rural Cumberland County, with a prior felony conviction, now faces up to five years in prison after he admitted to participating in "straw purchases" to obtain guns that he wasn't allowed to own.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig says 32-year-old Darick Nollett of Heislerville pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

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The NRA describes a "straw purchase" as when,

Person “A” buys a firearm for Person “B”, at Person “B’s” request. They’re illegal, because criminals and other people who cannot pass a background check often get other people, who can pass a background check, to buy guns for them.

According to court documents, Nollett, who was not allowed to own guns due to a felony conviction back in 2015,

"caused other individuals to purchase five firearms for him [in 2018 and 2019]. These individuals falsely stated on U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Firearm Transaction Records that they were the actual buyer/transferee of the firearm when, in fact, Nollett was the actual buyer/transferee."

Honig's office says Nollett ordered "fuel filters" from China that he intended to use as firearms silencers. It was that purchase that lead to cops executing a search warrant at his home in May 2020, where over 30 guns were seized.

In addition to the potential prison sentence, Nollett could be fined up to $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 5th.

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