Former Altoona detective released
Sentencing in ‘ghost gun’ case postponed after defense reported cancer diagnosis
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The former city police detective whose sentencing on federal firearms charges was postponed this week due to ill health will be released from prison to reside at his Altoona home pending further proceedings in his case.
Craig Zahradnik, 52, last December entered guilty pleas to seven federal charges in which he admitted he was part of a group that manufactured and sold illegal "ghost guns" and "hit kits." He was arrested in April 2023 along with co-conspirators Harry Miller of Martinsburg and Wayne Farabaugh of New Paris.
All three have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.
Zahradnik was to be sentenced Wednesday but the proceedings were postponed after his Pittsburgh attorney Robert S. Carey Jr., in a sentencing statement, reported that following his pleas to the charges, Zahradnik was diagnosed with cancer that had metastasized.
In view of his client's serious illness, Carey argued that Zahradnik should receive a time-served sentence (he has been held in a county prison for the past 11 months), noting if Zahradnik received a guideline sentence in which the minimum is 70 months, it would be a de facto life sentence. Earlier this week, Zahradnik's attorney asked for a continuation of his sentencing hearing due to his illness.
In his petition, he also requested that the defendant be released from confinement, a request that had been previously denied, so he could reside in his Altoona home.
Carey's petition to revoke the judge's detention order contended Zahradnik has a "clean criminal record," "did not commit any acts of violence," "does not pose a risk to the safety of any person in the community" and "is not a flight risk."
He also argued that federal procedure deems release proper "if it is clearly shown that there are exceptional reasons why detention would not be appropriate."
The Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case, Maureen Sheehan-Balchon, opposed the defense request for home detention.
The day after postponing the sentencing, Haines, in a follow-up order, vacated Zahradnik's ongoing detention order.
In a separate order, she set conditions for his release, some of which were suggested by the prosecution.
Zahradnik cannot obtain a passport and is restricted in his travel to the Western District of Pennsylvania.
He is to avoid contact with any person who may be a victim or witness in his case. Two specific people are to be identified with whom he is to have no contact.
He is also banned from possessing a firearm or other weapons.
Another condition specifies he is not to use excessive amounts of alcohol.
His release will be monitored through the Court's Pretrial Services office.