Three Mahoning Valley men were indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Those charged in the unrelated cases are Abdul Lateef, age 29, of Youngstown, Ohio; James D. Moore, age 52, of Warren, Ohio, and Edward Lightning, age 28, of Youngstown.

Lateef’s indictment charges that on or about May 11, 2012, he possessed a Beretta, model 92FS, 9mm pistol and ammunition after he had been previously convicted of aggravated possession of drugs, having weapons while under disability and possession of cocaine in the Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio.

Moore’s indictment charges that on or about May 18, 2012, he possessed a Ruger, model P95, 9mm pistol and ammunition after he had been previously convicted of robbery and theft in the Court of Common Pleas of Trumbull County, Ohio.

Lightning’s indictment charges that on or about April 30, 2012, he possessed a Norinco, model 5401, 7.62 x 25 pistol and ammunition after he had been previously convicted of Burglary and Escape in the Court of Common Pleas of Trumbull County, Ohio.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, the defendants’ 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.

The investigations preceding these indictments were conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Youngstown Field Office and the Liberty Township, Weathersfield Township and Warren police departments. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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.

 

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