Canton Man Charged With Theft Of Firearms And Dealing Firearms Without A License

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced that a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment charging Renard Torrence, age 50, of Canton, Ohio, with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and with theft of firearms from federal firearms licensees.

Count 1 of the indictment charges that from in or about April 2013, to in or about August 2013, Torrence dealt in firearms without being a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Counts 2 through 12 of the indictment charges that Torrence stole firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees as listed below.

COUNT	DATE	FIREARM	FFL
2	April 11, 2013	Smith & Wesson, Model SD40VE, .40 pistol	MC Guns LLC, Medina, Ohio
June 11, 2013	Keltec, Model P11, 9mm pistol	All Seasons Sports Center, Inc., Wooster, Ohio
4	June 20, 2013	Bersa, Model Thunder, .380 pistol, and a Keltec, Model P11, 9mm pistol	Kames Sports Center, North Canton, Ohio
5	July 2, 2013	Smith & Wesson, Model SD9VE, 9mm pistol, and a Ruger, Model P89, 9mm pistol	Miller Gun Supply Ltd., Sugarcreek, Ohio

6	EAA, Model SARK2P, 9mm pistol, and a Smith & Wesson, Model SD9VE, 9mm pistol	Valley Gun & Collectables Inc., Strasburg, Ohio
7	July 17, 2013	Smith & Wesson, Model MP40, .40 pistol, and a Beretta, Model 92FS, 9mm pistol	Midwest Gun Club, Canal Fulton, Ohio
8	July 19, 2013	Glock, Model 21, .45 pistol, and a Keltec, model P32, .32 pistol	Pro Armament Co. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9	July 25, 2013	Kahr, Model CW9, 9mm pistol, and a Smith & Wesson, Model SD40, .40 pistol	Top Gun Supply, Chesterland, Ohio
10	July 29, 2013	Smith & Wesson, Model MP9, 9mm pistol, and a Keltec, Model PF9, 9mm pistol	The Hunt’n Shack, Carrollton, Ohio
11	July 31, 2013	Smith & Wesson, Model SD9VE, 9mm pistol, and a Smith & Wesson, Model MP15, .223 rifle	Apex Powersports, New Philadelphia, Ohio
12	August 5, 2013	Taurus, Model PT92, 9mm pistol, a Smith & Wesson, Model MP40, .40 pistol, and a Marlin, Model 75C, .22 rifle	Top Shot Firearms LLC, Ravenna, 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 sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

An indictment in 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.