Anthony V. Mascarella, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Ohio 2016

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Felons in Possession of Firearm Charges Filed

Two men, both with prior convictions, have been indicted on firearms charges in Ohio. According to David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Anthony V. Mascarella, 29, of Youngstown, and Terry Lee Leitch, 33, of Rootstown, face serious penalties if convicted.

Mascarella, a convicted felon with a domestic violence conviction from the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas in 2007, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that he possessed a Smith & Wesson, model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition on Nov. 15, 2016, after his conviction.

Leitch, on the other hand, was indicted on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a New England Firearms, model Pardner SB-1, 20 gauge shotgun, modified with a barrel length of approximately 13 inches and an overall length of approximately 19.25 inches, which firearm had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, on Sept. 12, 2016.

Both men are facing significant penalties if convicted, with the defendant’s sentence determined by the court after review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer, and the cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Youngstown Police Department (Mascarella) and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office (Leitch).

An indictment is 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.

The Northern District of Ohio has seen a significant increase in firearms-related cases in recent years, with many cases involving individuals with prior convictions who were found to be in possession of firearms and ammunition. While the exact motivations behind these cases are unclear, it is evident that the government is taking a tough stance on firearms-related crimes.

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