The U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh said Alexander Pagley Sr., 56, and Tammy Clark, 33, both of 1439 Coffee Run Road, Pulaski, and Alexander Pagley Jr., 32, and Jeffrey Natale, 39, both of New Castle, have been charged with conspiracy, making false statements in records kept by federally licensed firearms dealers, selling or delivering firearms or ammunition other than a shotgun or rifle to anyone under 21, and selling a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person.

The defendants operated Pete's Bait and Sport, 4 Mahoning Ave., New Castle. From March 15 to April 27, they sold firearms through a straw purchaser to a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A straw purchaser is someone who says he or she is the actual buyer of a firearm, when he or she is really buying it for someone else.

Pagley Sr. and Natale face the most serious possible maximum sentence, 50 years in prison and a $2,250,000 fine.

Pagley Jr. could be imprisoned for 45 years and fined $2 million, and Natale could face up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case, which was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Oberdorf Miller.