A Cumberland County felon admitted in federal court Monday that he had other people buy him firearms that he could not legally possess.
Darick Nollett, 32, of Heislerville, Maurice River Township, pleaded to one count of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
Nollett is not legally allowed to own guns due to a 2015 conviction for endangering-sexual conduct with a child by a non-caretaker, records show.
He was sentenced to three years’ probation for that prior offense, which was originally charged as sexual assault of a victim who is 13 to 15 years old and at least four years younger than the perpetrator, according to court records.
Despite this, Nollett had other people buy five firearms for him in 2018 and 2019, U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig said.
Those individuals, who were not named, falsely stated on U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Firearm Transaction Records that they were the buyer/transferee of the firearm, even though they were for him.
The illegal purchases were discovered during an investigation last year into “fuel filters” Nollett ordered from China with the intent to modify them and use them as firearms silencers, according to the charging document.
A subsequent search of his home recovered more than 30 firearms, as well as ammunition and firearm accessories.
Nollett must surrender those firearms, ammunition, and accessories as part of his guilty plea.
The charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
He is scheduled to be sentenced April 5.
