Northampton County Man Indicted for Possessing Homemade Bombs, Guns While Subject to Protection From Abuse Order

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Jason Muzzicato, 43, of Bangor, Pennsylvania was charged by Indictment with possession of firearms by a person subject to a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking and threatening an intimate partner (known as a domestic violence protective order, Protection From Abuse order or PFA), and possession of an unregistered destructive device (an improvised explosive device).

The charges against the defendant stem from his possession of homemade bombs and firearms, while subject to the terms of a PFA order issued by the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Under federal law, an individual who is subject to a PFA order is prohibited from possessing firearms.  As alleged in the Indictment, the defendant possessed seven improvised explosive devices and nine firearms, including multiple AR-15 rifles and semi-automatic pistols.

“Protection From Abuse orders are meant to protect individuals before the situation escalates,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “For good reasons, federal law prohibits subjects of PFA orders from possessing firearms.  Here the defendant’s alleged behavior violated the law and threatened public safety.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $260,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allentown Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Reading Field Office, the Washington Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bethlehem Fire Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gallagher.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.