CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Zaveeyon Teasley, age 20, whose last known address was in Cleveland with stealing 30 firearms from a licensed firearms dealer in Akron.
According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2022, the defendant allegedly drove a stolen vehicle through the storefront of a licensed federal firearms dealer in Akron. Court documents state that the defendant and two other co-conspirators then stole 30 firearms from the store. After the incident, law enforcement authorities responded and began an investigation into the matter and soon identified the defendants as having been involved in the theft.
On Jan. 11, 2023, court records say that law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Cleveland-area residence pursuant to their investigation. During the search of the residence, it is alleged that authorities obtained items linking the defendant to the firearms theft in Akron. Court documents show that the defendant was arrested later that day.
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.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Bath Police Department, and the Cleveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.