A Hazleton man has been charged with numerous illegal purchases of guns.

On Aug. 30, 2023, at 11:15 a.m., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the PA Office of Attorney General and the Hazleton City Police Department charged Cesar Hiciano-Rivera, 21, of Hazleton, for “straw purchases.”

Police said Hiciano-Rivera made several purchases of firearms for felons and people who are not allowed to legally purchase/possess firearms.

Charged with 41 felony counts and 22 misdemeanor offenses, he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Thomas F. Malloy Sr. The charges include materially false written statements regarding the purchase, delivery or transfer of a firearm, false swearing/misleading a public servant and firearm ownership/duty of other persons.

The Hazleton City Police Department was notified of these crimes by the Butler Township Police Department. Hazleton City Police Department’s Gun Violence Task Force, whose members work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated these crimes. In the state of Pennsylvania each sale is punishable by a five-year mandatory prison sentence.

This was a collaborative investigation involving the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, A.T.F., PA Attorney General’s Office and the Butler Township Police Department, Freeland Police Department, and Hazleton City Police Department.

Rivera was committed to the Luzerne County Prison in lieu of $175,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing.