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Hazleton resident indicted on charges of drug trafficking, firearm possession

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<p>SCRANTON &#8212; The U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Scranton has indicted Damone Whitley, 22, of Nanticoke, with making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer.</p><p>According to news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Whitley was arraigned on Tuesday. Whitley allegedly provided false information for the purchase of two firearms from a gun shop in Nanticoke on April 5. The indictment alleges that Whitley stated that he was the true buyer of the firearms when, in fact, he was buying them for others, the release said.</p><p>Officials said the matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and that prosecution has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert O&#8217;Hara.</p><p>Officials said the case is one of a number that have resulted from the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a district-wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Federal grand jury indicts Nanticoke man for allegedly making straw purchases of firearms