Six face federal charges
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State police, along with McDonald police filed charges against six people for firearm violations, most for giving false statements during the federal investigation into the straw purchase of firearms.
Charged by state police with illegal sale of firearms were Rose Mary Washington, 38, of Uniontown; Cynthia Joann Wiley, 28, of San Leandro, Calif.; Olga Iris Rivera, 49, of 139 N. Haft St., Houston; and Bradley E. Kompa, 32, of 2338 Grandview Farms Court, Bethel Park.
Christopher Robyn Cooper, 24, of 107 S. Main St., Midway, was charged by McDonald police with receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, lending a firearm, person not to possess a firearm, theft and theft by deception.
Washington reportedly purchased a .45-caliber handgun from True Value Hardware, Rices Landing, for her cousin because he did not have identification. The cousin reportedly gave her $40 for making the purchase. Washington later learned he was the leader of a Uniontown-based gang.
The cousin was reportedly in his late teens at the time of the purchase. Washington admitted to investigators that she lied on the application.
Wiley is accused of being paid to purchase guns at Ace Sporting Goods in South Strabane Township for others in exchange for cash. One of the guns was recovered by state police during a vehicle chase and foot pursuit.
Rivera, who is also charged with loan of a firearm, allegedly purchased guns for her husband, Felix Cruz. He was arrested on two different occasions with the weapons.
Kompa is accused of purchasing a pistol at Pfronger’s when the store was located in Coal Center and then trading it for $300 in heroin. The gun was then used in a shooting, investigators said. Kompa denied making a straw purchase of the weapon but admitted to lying on the application for the purchase about his drug use.
Cooper is accused of stealing two guns from John McAnany, 423 Prospect St., Midway, last September. McAnany discovered several guns were missing from his home. He told McDonald police that he suspected Cooper, who is his nephew, because there was no sign of forced entry. Cooper allegedly sold one of the guns back to McAnany.