Cleveland man Toriano A. Leaks, Jr., 20, was indicted in federal court on two counts of illegal possession of a machine gun—after authorities discovered a Glock .40-caliber handgun modified to fire fully automatic, stashed under the driver’s seat during a routine traffic stop in Bedford, Ohio.
On April 10, Leaks was pulled over by Bedford Police Officer Stanton for minor traffic violations. What began as a standard stop exploded into a major weapons bust when the officer spotted suspicious behavior and uncovered not only the illegal firearm but 21 rounds of ammunition, three high-capacity magazines—15, 20, and 30 rounds—and narcotics inside the vehicle. The gun was equipped with a select-fire auto-sear, a component used solely to convert handguns into unlicensed machine guns.
“Adding this specific part to a handgun to make it fully automatic makes that firearm illegal and puts the public at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute all firearms violations, and especially to stop the flow of these parts into the country.”
Jonathan T. McPherson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division, emphasized the danger: “The possession of illegal firearms is a violation of federal law and a threat to public safety. ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities.”
Bedford Police Chief Martin Stemple credited Officer Stanton’s vigilance, calling the arrest a textbook example of how sharp police work turns minor stops into major public safety wins. “Because of the Officer’s relentless determination, the individual’s true identity was learned, a weapon and ammunition along with narcotics were all confiscated,” Stemple said. “This incident just goes to show the dangers our officers face, even on something that appears to start out as a minor traffic violation.”
The case, part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki. Investigating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bedford Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt—the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Leaks faces a sentence determined by the court, within federal statutory limits.
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