KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that 10 Kansas City, Mo., men, a St. Joseph, Mo., man and an Independence, Mo., man were indicted by a federal grand jury today, in separate and unrelated cases, for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

Davon L. Coppage, 24, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Coppage, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of an Intratec 9mm firearm on Sept. 17, 2012.

Antonio D. Dixon, 23, of Kansas City, was charged being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Dixon, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun on Sept. 20, 2012.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Y. Tabor. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Acie A. Evans, 30, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Evans, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Jennings .380-caliber pistol on Sept. 4, 2012.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Rodney L. White, 24, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that White, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Sept. 12, 2012.

Wendell D. Isaac, 53, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Isaac, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Winchester .22-caliber rifle on Aug. 7, 2012.

These cases are being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shalanda J. Smith. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Craig A. Sutton, 31, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Sutton, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol on July 7, 2012.

Aaron T. Bell, 29, of St. Joseph, Mo., was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges Bell, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of 45 rounds of 9mm ammunition on June 6, 2012.

Matthew J. Siefkas, 27, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Siefkas, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Lorcin 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number on Sept. 18, 2012.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

David Bedford, 58, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Bedford, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Grendel .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on Sept. 19, 2012.

Turane Maddox, 33, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Maddox, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol on July 26, 2011.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Barnes. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Kenneth V. Cooper, 29, of Kansas City, was charged with being a drug user in possession of ammunition in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment alleges that Cooper, an unlawful user of marijuana, was in possession of 18 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition on Aug. 21, 2012.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.

Delmer Zelaya-Claros, 29, a citizen of Honduras residing in Independence, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Zelaya-Claros was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms and with two counts related to illegally entering the United States. Today’s indictment alleges that Zelaya-Claros was in possession of a Mossberg .22-caliber rifle, and a .32-caliber Clerke revolver on Aug. 22, 2012. According to the indictment, Zelaya-Claros was previously deported and removed from the United States on May 22, 2009.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Sanders. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Project Ceasefire
Project Ceasefire, launched in October 1999, is a cooperative initiative by federal and local law enforcement and the Kansas City Crime Commission that targets for federal prosecution persons who unlawfully use or possess firearms.

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