Harrisburg Man Gets Nearly 10 Years for Illegally Making and Possessing Firearms

A Harrisburg resident with a lengthy criminal record has been sentenced to nearly a decade in federal prison after being caught with a homemade short-barrel rifle and a cache of tactical weapons and gear. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Philip Shearer, 49, was sentenced to 115 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing an unregistered firearm.

Federal investigators uncovered the rifle—classified as a weapon requiring registration under the National Firearms Act—along with over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, night vision goggles, and a military-style ghillie suit in Shearer’s Harrisburg home. Prosecutors noted that Shearer, who has 14 prior convictions including five for driving under the influence and one for domestic violence, was legally prohibited from owning any firearms. He had previously been denied when attempting to purchase guns legally and instead turned to manufacturing them himself.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative designed to dismantle violent criminal organizations and enforce existing gun laws. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Dukes.

This sentencing serves as a reminder of ongoing federal efforts to reduce the availability of illegal firearms and keep weapons out of the hands of those with violent criminal histories. While the case does not directly change local law or taxes, it reinforces federal commitment to public safety initiatives that target repeat offenders and untraceable weapons.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

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