Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Over 17 Years for Fatal Accidental Shooting and Drug Offenses

A York, Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to 210 months, or 17 and a half years, in federal prison for his role in the death of a five-year-old boy and for possessing illegal drugs and a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson.

According to information from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Adrian Moye, 34, of York, was convicted of possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including drug-trafficking offenses. He was also found to have possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute. The series of events leading to Moye’s sentencing began on August 20, 2019, when Moye left a five-year-old boy unattended in a vehicle parked on East Philadelphia Street in York. A loaded handgun belonging to Moye was also present in the vehicle. Tragically, the firearm was accidentally discharged, resulting in the death of the child.

The investigation into this incident was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the York City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli was responsible for prosecuting the case. Moye’s prior felony convictions prohibited him from legally possessing any firearms. The subsequent investigation also uncovered evidence that Moye was involved in the distribution of cocaine. The lengthy prison sentence reflects the severity of the charges, encompassing both the firearms offense due to his felon status and the drug-related charges, compounded by the tragic circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

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

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