Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Maple Heights Man Indicted on Firearm and Drug Charges
A federal grand jury indicted Antonio W. Saunders, 38, of Maple Heights, on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The indictment alleges that on or about November 1, 2017, Saunders possessed a Bersa, Semi-Automatic, 9mm pistol and ammunition, after having been previously convicted of two felony offenses in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 2001 and 2011. The indictment also alleges that on or about the same date, Saunders possessed with the intent to distribute less than 100 pounds of marijuana.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.
If convicted, the Court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of 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.
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.