New Kensington Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.

William Jermaine Rodgers III, 29, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to a one-count Indictment charging Rodgers with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on July 1, 2025, law enforcement reported to a home in the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh after learning that Rodgers-who had been a fugitive since at least February 2025-may be staying there. Upon arriving at the home, law enforcement discovered Rodgers in a second-story master bedroom. After taking Rodgers into custody, law enforcement recovered a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition stowed between the mattress and box spring of the bed in the room in which Rodgers had been staying. Rodgers was previously convicted of numerous federal felony drug offenses in Indiana, Westmoreland, and Allegheny counties, and had also been previously convicted of a felony offense for issuing terroristic threats in Westmoreland County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

Judge Schwab scheduled Rodgers' sentencing for July 30, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rodgers.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.