A man's guilty plea is the fifth conviction federal prosecutors have won in the prosecution of an illegal gun-selling scheme in New Castle.

Johnnie Burton, 37, formerly of New Castle and Detroit, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, said the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh.

Burton was the ultimate recipient of 10 firearms sold through a straw purchaser at Pete's Bait and Sport in New Castle.

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

Judge J. Ralph Cindrich set sentencing for 11:30 a.m. July 11. Burton could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to prosecutors, Alexander Pagley Jr., 33, of New Castle operated the shop and his father, Alexander Pagley Sr., 56, his father's wife, Tammy Pagley, 35, both of Pulaski, and Jeffrey Natale, 40, of New Castle worked there.

The indictment alleges they sold firearms in the name of another on four occasions in 2001. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted an undercover investigation and secretly recorded the transactions.

The Alexander Pagleys and Natale have pleaded guilty to knowingly selling a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person.

Alexander Pagley Sr. was sentenced in to 1 year plus 1 day in prison, and Alexander Pagley Jr. to 15 months.

Natale will be sentenced May 30.

Ms. Pagley was found guilty by a jury in February to charges of conspiracy and making false statements in records kept by federally licensed firearms dealers. She is to be sentenced May 9.