28-01-2025
Clarks Summit man faces gun, child endangerment charges
A Clarks Summit man prohibited from possessing a firearm faces charges after attempting to sell a ghost gun, investigators said.
On Friday morning, Detective John Munley from the Lackawanna County district attorney's office received information about Paul Michael Pasco trying to illegally sell a ghost gun, according to a criminal complaint. Ghost guns are untraceable and put together using components purchased as a kit or as separate pieces, police said.
During his investigation, Munley learned Pasco sought to sell the gun to someone in South Scranton, per the criminal complaint. Munley was also told Pasco had other guns inside his Chevrolet Equinox, police said.
Pasco is not permitted to carry a concealed gun stemming from a prior drug conviction, per the criminal complaint. Additionally, Pasco can't legally purchase a gun because he has a medical marijuana card, investigators said.
Detectives from the Lackawanna County Detectives Drug Unit, Gun and Gang Reduction Task Force and officers from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit established surveillance at the meet location and saw Pasco sitting in his vehicle before he began to drive away, per the criminal complaint.
Officers also noticed Pasco's vehicle had a front window tint and conducted a traffic stop where he was detained, police said. Pasco told Munley he had three guns and marijuana inside his vehicle, per the criminal complaint.
Pasco (Courtesy Lackawanna County Processing Center)
After receiving permission to search the vehicle, investigators found the ghost gun — a black handgun that was loaded, a rifle with a scope and a shotgun, police said.
The rifle and shotgun were located directly next to his 4-year-old daughter, who was in her car seat, investigators said. Detectives also confiscated smoked marijuana roaches and a marijuana grinder, police said.
Pasco admitted to investigators that he was going to sell the gun and was upset that he got set up, per the criminal complaint.
Police charged Pasco, 1118 South Abington Road, with criminal attempt to illegally transfer a firearm, firearms not to be carried without a license, endangering the welfare of children and related counts.
As of Monday, Pasco, 27, remained at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 10:45 a.m.
