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Judge wants update on convicted ghost gun seller still awaiting sentencing

Zahradnik, awaiting sentencing, currently undergoing end-of-life care at hospice center

Zahradnik

A federal judge has ordered an update on the medical condition of a retired Altoona police detective who is awaiting a sentencing hearing for his part in a scheme to manufacture and sell illegal ghost guns and hit kits.

The former officer, Craig Zahradnik, entered guilty pleas to seven charges before District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown on Dec. 11, 2023, but his sentencing has been delayed because of Zahradnik’s serious medical problems.

Since his guilty pleas, Zahradnik’s Pittsburgh attorney has asked the judge to allow him to stay in home detention and, most recently, to remain in an inpatient hospice care center where he is undergoing end-of-life care.

The defense attorney has been sending monthly status reports to delay sentencing, and the judge has been complying with the requests that Zahradnik remain in the treatment facility.

However, following the submission of the June medical report, the judge issued an order stating that the government wanted a status report on the Zahradnik situation.

In her subsequent order, Haines stated, “Government has an interest in setting a sentencing (date) given the 15-16 month postponement for medical reasons.”

She reported in her order that the federal Probation Department learned that Zahradnik “is undergoing no active medical treatment or testing for his terminal condition.”

The court order is seeking information that includes a detailed account of his medical status, details about the facility he is in, reports by medical staff, his daily routine and lifestyle and “any independent observations of defense counsel.”

She concluded in her order that depending upon the next medical status report, “the Court will consider whether to set a date for sentencing.”

The defense attorney has requested that the information be filed under seal.

Zahradnik was one of three area men arrested in 2023 for manufacturing ghost guns and hit kits.

The trio also included Harry Miller of Martinsburg, who also entered pleas to federal firearms charges, and Wayne Patrick Farabaugh of Altoona.

Miller is serving a 10-year-sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto, while Farabaugh received a probationary sentence.

Zahradnik entered pleas to conspiracy to engage in manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license; dealing in firearms without a license; possessing machine guns; transferring firearms in furtherance of a felony; knowingly and unlawfully possessing machine guns; transferring firearms knowing it would constitute a felony; dealing in firearms without paying an occupational tax; and transferring unregistered firearms.

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