PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of forcible assault of a federal employee, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Martinel Humphries, age 28, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on January 5, 2023, Humphries used a firearm in assaulting a United States Postal Service employee. Because of his prior felony convictions, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Humphries was not permitted to have a firearm.
The law provides for a ten year minimum sentence on the charge that Humphries used a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison on the forcible assault charge and not more than 15 years in prison on the felon in possession charge, a fine of not more than $250,000 on each count, a term of supervised release of not more than five years on the forcible assault and use of a firearm counts and not more than three years on the felon in possession count, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney William B. Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case, with assistance from the Pittsburgh Police Department and Ross Township Police Department.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.