A McKeesport resident, Thomas Thornton, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The plea was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Thornton, 48, entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand on October 2, 2025. He admitted to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to information presented in court, on December 19, 2024, Thornton fired ten rounds from a stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol into an occupied home in Pittsburgh. Officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police arrested him minutes after the shooting. A search of Thornton’s vehicle led officers to recover the pistol used in the incident. At the time of this offense, Thornton was already under federal supervised release due to previous convictions for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Judge Wiegand set sentencing for February 4, 2026. Thornton faces up to fifteen years in prison and a possible fine of $250,000. The actual sentence will depend on the seriousness of the crime and his prior criminal record according to federal guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
