Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Garfield Heights woman indicted for making straw purchase of firearm; her brother previously indicted on firearms charge
A Garfield Heights woman was indicted for making a straw purchase of a firearm earlier this year.
Sarah Werman, 32, was indicted on one count of making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm.
Werman stated on March 14, 2019 at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters in Middleburg Heights that she was the actual buyer of a Ruger 9 mm pistol, when, in fact, she was not the actual buyer of the firearm, according to the indictment.
Her brother, Alfred Werman, 29, also of Garfield Heights, was indicted earlier this year on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Alfred Werman possessed a Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol and 45 rounds of ammunition on May 20, 2019, despite having previously been convicted of burglary, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Kane.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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