A Pulaski man, his son and another man have pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally selling firearms, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh said.

Alexander Pagley Sr., 56, of 1439 Coffee Run Road, pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Lancaster to knowingly selling a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person.

Alexander Pagley Jr., 33, and Jeffrey Natale, 40, both of New Castle, pleaded guilty Wednesday to the same charge.

A fourth person charged in the case, Tammy Clark, 33, also of 1439 Coffee Run, is set for trial Oct. 21 before Lancaster.

All four were originally indicted on the charge the men pleaded to plus conspiracy, making false statements in records kept by federally licensed firearm dealers and selling or delivering firearms or ammunition other than a shotgun or rifle to someone under 21.

Pagley Jr. operated Pete's Bait and Sport in New Castle, and was a federally licensed firearms dealer. His father, Natale and Ms. Clark were employees in the store.

On four occasions, between March 15, 2001, and April 27, 2001, employees sold nine firearms through a "straw purchaser" to a convicted felon who is prohibited from buying or having 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 got someone else.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted an undercover operation at the store and secretly recorded each purchase.

The Pagleys and Natale will be sentenced Jan. 10, and could be jailed up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.