Illegal fireworks ringleader sentenced to 4 years in prison
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A Westmoreland County man who led an illegal fireworks ring was sentenced Wednesday to four years and three months in prison. It was the second federal conviction for explosives-related crimes for James E. McCloy, 61, of Mount Pleasant Borough following one in Ohio in 1998.
Mr. McCloy pleaded guilty in June to transportation of explosive materials without a license, conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon. Despite the prior conviction that brought a lifetime ban on owning firearms, he had nine guns in a safe, which he claimed were his son's.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Nescott said the four defendants in the case conspired to distribute "in excess of 10,000 pounds of high explosives" in 13,000 devices, including some he described as "Zambelli-type fireworks."
U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab pronounced the sentence.
The sentencing concludes a case that saw Howard F. McCloy, brother of James, sentenced to 15 months in prison, and Howard McCloy Jr. and Fred D. Collins sentenced to probation.
First Published January 19, 2012 12:00 am
