INDIANAPOLIS - A federal grand jury in Indianapolis returned an indictment late yesterday charging Tyesha Clark, 38, of Indianapolis, with unlawful transfer of a handgun to a juvenile and making false statements to obtain a firearm.
According to court documents, Clark allegedly purchased a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in the Indianapolis area on March 13, 2021. During the purchase, Clark falsely stated that she was the actual buyer of the firearm. As alleged, Clark made the purchase on behalf of a minor who she knew intended to use the gun to commit a violent crime.
If convicted, Clark faces up to ten years in federal prison on each count. Actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge and are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate who is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: USAO - Indiana, Southern
