Federal Firearms Charges Filed Against Four Mahoning Valley Men

A grand jury returned indictments charging four Mahoning Valley residents with violating federal firearms and ammunition statutes, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“We will continue to go after those who are forbidden by law from carrying firearms or ammunition, but do so anyway,” Dettelbach said.

Those charged in the unrelated indictments are:

Kevin L. Washington, age 26, of Boardman, Ohio, who was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with the intent to distribute heroin.

The indictment charges that on or about September 21, 2012, Washington possessed a Ceska Zbrojovka,model 75 SP-01, 9mm pistol, serial number A733206 and ammunition, despite having previously been convicted of aggravated robbery and felonious assault in the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, Ohio.

The indictment further charges that on or about September 21, 2012, Washington possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 26 grams of heroin.

Antonio S. Smith, age 30, of Warren, Ohio, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The indictment charges that on or about November 4, 2012, Smith possessed six rounds of .45 caliber CCI ammunition, despite previous convictions for failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, burglary and aggravated assault, in the Common Pleas Court of Trumbull County, Ohio.

Anthony J. Schaffer, age 24, of Canfield, Ohio, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Count 1 of the indictment charges that on or about June 26, 2012, Schaffer possessed one round of Hornady .38 caliber ammunition; five rounds of Remington .38 caliber ammunition; 16 rounds of Remington .380 caliber ammunition; two rounds of Winchester .380 caliber ammunition; 17 rounds of Wolf 9mm ammunition and 30 rounds of CCI .22 caliber ammunition. The indictment further charges in Count 2 that on or about December 11, 2012, Schaffer possessed a Smith & Wesson, model SW40V, .40 caliber pistol, with an obliterated serial number, and 14 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, after he had been previously convicted of burglary in the Common Pleas Court of Trumbull County, Ohio, and complicity to robbery in the Common Pleas Court of Mahoning County, Ohio.

James L. Mosley, age 32, of Youngstown, Ohio, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The indictment charges that on or about October 23, 2012, Mosley possessed a Harrington & Richardson, model 999, .22 caliber revolver, and ammunition, after he had been previously convicted of trafficking in crack cocaine and possession of cocaine in the Common Pleas Court of Mahoning County, Ohio.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Youngstown Field Office, the Warren Police Department, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the Boardman Police Department and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.