FORT WAYNE -United States Attorney David A. Capp announced that a federal grand jury in Fort Wayne returned a 12-count indictment against Carlos Sanchez, 30, and Matthew Warner, 21, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Sanchez and Warner were charged with the following:
*
Both were charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture or deal in firearms without being a licensed dealer of firearms.
Warner was also charged with one count of knowingly possessing or receiving a firearm that had been shipped or transported in interstate commerce with an obliterated serial number.
Sanchez was charged with one count of each of the following:
*
Not being a licensed dealer of firearms while engaging in the business of importing, manufacturing and dealing in firearms;
*
Being a felon in possession of a firearm;
*
Knowingly open, lease, rent and maintain a place for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance; and
*
Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Sanchez was also charged with three counts of each of the following:
*
Knowingly possessing or receiving a firearm that had been transported or shipped in interstate commerce with an obliterated serial number; and
*
Knowingly selling or providing a firearm to a felon.
According to court filings, Warner supplied firearms that were illegally trafficked. Sanchez was a prohibited person and could not legally obtain firearms. Warner tried to conceal his criminal conduct from law enforcement.
Both Sanchez and Warner were detained pending trial.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Miller-Lowery.
The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
