Federal jury convicts 'Hollywood' on firearm offense
May 9—SCRANTON — A former Wilkes-Barre man sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of Judith Comisky inside her South Wilkes-Barre home in 2021 was convicted by a federal jury Thursday of possessing a stolen firearm by a felon.
James Raymond "Hollywood" Alberto, 36, was initially charged by Wilkes-Barre police when they encountered him passed out in the driver's seat of a vehicle idling at Park Avenue and Northampton Street on Aug. 12, 2021, according to court records.
When the officer awakened Alberto, he claimed he was not asleep.
Police in court records say rolling papers, marijuana, two short straws commonly used to ingest controlled substances were found inside the vehicle after Alberto consented to a search.
A search warrant was obtained by police due to a locked glove box Alberto refused to open. Once the search warrant was served, a Kel Tec 9mm firearm loaded with a round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine and a pill container with 33 pills was found inside the glove box, according to court records.
The firearm was reported stolen to the Pennsylvania State Police at Shickshinny.
Alberto was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 on charges of possession of a stolen firearm and a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Alberto was a convicted felony prohibited from owning, carrying and possessing firearm and ammunition.
Alberto's federal case was delayed due to criminal homicide charges filed by Wilkes-Barre police for his role in the murder of Comisky inside her Willow Street residence on Sept. 16, 2021.
A Luzerne County jury convicted Alberto of first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy to commit homicide and burglary following a week long trial before Judge Michael T. Vough in November 2023.
During the Luzerne County trial, assistant district attorneys Drew McLaughlin and Julian Truskowski presented surveillance footage showing Alberto planning Comisky's murder, which was committed by Charles Bierly, 26, at US Gas at North Pennsylvania Avenue and Butler Street, Wilkes-Barre.
Bierly testified he was a "muscle for hire" and Alberto offered him $15,000, four ounces of fentanyl, four firearms and a vehicle in exchange for killing Comisky.
Alberto wanted Comisky killed as he wrongfully believed she was an informant.
Vough in January 2024, sentenced Alberto to life in prison in addition to 26-to-52 years behind bars.
Bierly, who pled guilty to third-degree murder, was sentenced by Vough to 45 to 90 years in prison.
During Alberto's federal jury trial held before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani this week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd presented body camera footage from two Wilkes-Barre police officers when Alberto was encountered passed out inside the idling vehicle.
Mariani scheduled Alberto to be sentenced Sept. 4.
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