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Press Release

Two Suburban Men Indicted On Federal Gun Charges For Allegedly Illegally Possessing 40 Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO ― Two suburban men are facing federal gun charges for allegedly illegally possessing 40 firearms, and one of them was also charged with selling firearms without a federal license between 2010 and 2011, federal law enforcement officials announced today.

One defendant, WALTER FREEMAN, also known as “Charlie” and “Cha-Lay,” 35, whose last known residence was in Lisle, was charged with one count each of being a felon-inpossession of firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and dealing firearms without a federal license. Co-defendant, TIMOTHY VANA, 53, of Forest Park, was charged with one count each of being a felon-in-possession of firearms and possession of stolen firearms.

Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Susan Cox in U.S. District Court. They were charged together in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury last Thursday.

According to the indictment, between October 2010 and July 2011, Freeman and Vana illegally possessed 40 assorted firearms, both as previously convicted felons and because they had reason to believe that those same firearms were stolen. Freeman was also charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal license during the same time period. The firearms included various 9 and 25 mm, and .22, .38, and .45 caliber pistols.

Being a felon-in-possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, and dealing firearms without a federal license carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation. The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Levin.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Indictment

Updated July 27, 2015