CLEVELAND — Two Cleveland men were arrested by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday and face charges for violations that include firearms trafficking, international smuggling, and murder-for-hire.
According to a release from the FBI Cleveland Division and its Joint Terrorism Task Force, 66-year-old George Baynes, aka Issa Yusef, and 48-year-old Aaron Betts made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court on Friday.
In its charging documents, the FBI says that Baynes "repeatedly purchased and sold new and stolen firearms and further attempted to smuggle firearms overseas. Baynes also enlisted the assistance of Betts to purchase and obtain firearms at a Cleveland area gun show."
Investigators say Betts purchased and sold multiple firearms to Baynes, "a known felon," and had an understanding that the weapons were to be shipped overseas.
In the complaint, Baynes is also accused of providing a cooperating witness "with firearms magazines and a gas mask to smuggle overseas along with the firearms and discussed smuggling parts for the creation and manufacture of pipe bombs. Additionally, Baynes solicited the witness to murder a specific subject known to Baynes."
Baynes has been charged with the following:
- Attempted Smuggling of Goods from the United States
- Selling or Disposing of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Conspiracy to Straw Purchase Firearms
- Firearms Trafficking
- Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy
- Murder-for-Hire
Betts has been charged with:
- Selling or Disposing of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon
- Straw Purchasing of Firearms
- Conspiracy to Straw Purchase Firearms
- Firearms Trafficking
- Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy
The FBI says Baynes and Betts were arrested without incident and are being held in custody pending detention and preliminary hearings.
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