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2 Cleveland men busted by FBI for allegedly smuggling firearms

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2 Cleveland men busted by FBI for allegedly smuggling firearms


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Force announced the arrests of two men charged with several firearms violations, including trafficking, smuggling, and murder-for-hire, according to a press release from the FBI.

The FBI said 66-year-old George Baynes, aka Issa Yusef, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Aaron Betts, age 48, of Cleveland, Ohio, were arrested Friday without incident, and charged by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, with several charges.

According to court documents, Baynes and Betts violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d)(1), Selling or Disposing of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon; Title 18, United States Code, Section 932(b), Conspiracy to Straw Purchase Firearms; Title 18, United States Code, Section 933(a)(1), Firearms Trafficking; and Title 18, United States Code, Section 933(a)(1) and (3), Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy; and there is also probable cause that BAYNES has violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 554(a), Attempted Smuggling of Goods from the United States; Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), Felon in Possession of a Firearm; and Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958(a), Murder-for-Hire.

Court documents allege Baynes repeatedly purchased and sold new and stolen firearms and attempted to smuggle firearms overseas. Baynes also enlisted Betts to purchase firearms at a Cleveland area gun show.

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Betts bought and sold multiple firearms to Baynes, a known felon, and knew the weapons were to be shipped overseas, according to the complaint.

Baynes, according to the documents, also provided a cooperating witness with firearms magazines and a gas mask to smuggle overseas along with the firearms and discussed smuggling parts for the creation and manufacture of pipe bombs. Additionally, Baynes solicited the witness to murder a specific subject known to Baynes.

Baynes and Betts are being held in custody pending detention and preliminary hearings.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division, and its Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Akron Police Department, ATF, CBP, Cleveland Division of Police, CMHA, Cuyahoga County School District, Cuyahoga County Community College Police Department, ERO, HSI, Parma Police Department, RTA, SSA, USCIS, USDA, and USSS.

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Solemnity of All Saints & Celebration of 100 Years with our Mysterious Martyr | November 01, 2025

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Solemnity of All Saints & Celebration of 100 Years with our Mysterious Martyr | November 01, 2025


Join us on Saturday, November 1 at 10:00am at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to celebrate All Saints Day and the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Cleveland receiving the relics of St. Christina, an early Christian martyr.
All are invited and children are encouraged to dress as their…



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Timeline: When to expect widespread rain in NE Ohio

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Timeline: When to expect widespread rain in NE Ohio


CLEVELAND (WJW) – Hurricane made landfall in Jamaica this afternoon as one of the most powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic. It is expected to track through eastern Cuban, into the Bahamas and then out to sea. There will be no direct impacts on the United States.

It will be another quiet and cool evening for us across Northeast Ohio. Skies will be clear, it will be dry and temps in the 40s. You will want the jacket as there will be a little breeze from time to time.

Similar to last night, temps are in the upper 30s, clear and quiet.

Much of Wednesday will be dry with some sunshine in the morning. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than average but still an all around pleasant day. Clouds will be on the increase throughout the afternoon. Widespread rain arrives from the south by mid evening and continues Wednesday night.

Steady rain continues all day Thursday for all areas. We could wind up with an inch or two of rain by Friday.

Scattered rain showers will continue with a WNW wind and cooler temps on Friday.

Halloween does not look like a washout. However, a few kiddos may have to dodge a few rain drops Friday evening. Everyone will need a jacket or sweatshirt underneath their Halloween costume. A few other communities may need to move their trick-or-treating to another day. Here’s an early look at trick-or-treating on Halloween:

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 2. Here’s the latest 8 Day Forecast:

Keep up with FOX 8 for the latest weather conditions.



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Dr. Kirsten Kunkle performs musical piece in Cleveland, OH – MVSKOKE Media

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Dr. Kirsten Kunkle performs musical piece in Cleveland, OH – MVSKOKE Media


CLEVELAND – Soprano vocalist Dr. Kirsten Kunkle (Mvskoke) and composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw) are working together once again on a project and performance known as Ko’koomfena, Our Grandmother, held at the Suzanne and Paul Westlake Performing Arts Center in Cleveland from Oct. 16-19. 

Kunkle and Tate recently sat down with Live Wire, to discuss the performance which was sponsored by CityMusic Cleveland. 

Ko’koomfena is sung in the Shawnee language- a first for Kunkle.

Kunkle, who has sung in Chickasaw and once performed in 6 different languages for the American Indian Symphony (Apache, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Modoc, Potawatomi, Wichita), pointed out how important this performance is to her and how groundbreaking it is. 

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“This may be the first time that anyone’s sung classically in Shawnee,” Kunkle said. “I don’t say that lightly. I think that the things that we’re doing, especially the work I’m doing with Jerod, is exceptionally groundbreaking.”

Tate praised Kunkle for the work she has done, especially given how there is no set translation for Indigenous languages via the International Phonetic Alphabet.

“It’s really cool, because she’s kind of leading the way on all of this, and so now, hopefully, people will be calling her for her insights about how she’s doing languages and everything,” Tate said. 

When asked about how the performances went in Cleveland, Kunkle stated that all four performances were very well received by audiences, and that she was very grateful for the opportunity.

“The joy of bringing the Shawnee language to audiences in the original homeland of the Shawnee tribe, singing this incredible score by the leading Native symphonic composer Jerod Tate, and having my debut with the amazing CityMusic Cleveland, in my home state, was such a pleasure and true highlight,” Kunkle said.

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The learning process for Kunkle was, as always, a collaboration with Indigenous knowledge bearers. “Joel Barnes of the Shawnee Nation was able to give me a very detailed audio file to help me in navigating the language, for which I am very grateful.” 

When asked why they create performances like this, Kunkle stated that this has been another chance for her to not only expand her knowledge on Indigenous languages, but also to keep showing off the languages and cultures of various tribes to a wider audience. For Kunkle and Tate, performances like this also give Tribes more attention and work to keep their stories alive.

“Jerod and I both are extremely driven to retain and advance Native culture, and bridging the gap between language and classical music is one of the most important parts of our legacy as musicians,” Kunkle said. 

“Hopefully, the story of Ko’koom’feena will extend far beyond these performances, and Jerod’s music will continue to reach new audiences while expanding upon the cultural heritage of the Shawnee people. I am honored to be a part of this important musical and cultural storytelling.”

For more information on Tate and Kunkle’s performance, visit https://www.clevelandart.org/events/citymusic-cleveland-chamber-orchestra

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