Cleveland, OH

2 Cleveland men busted by FBI for allegedly smuggling firearms

Published

5 months ago

May 11, 2024

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.

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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Cleveland, OH

Man stabbed on Cleveland’s West Side

Published

7 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man was stabbed in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood Thursday.

The stabbing happened near West 73rd Street and Elton Court around 2:15 p.m.

The man was taken to MetroHealth Hospital in stable condition, according to Cleveland EMS.

19 News has reached out to Cleveland Police for more information.

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Cleveland, OH

Tickets on sale now for Tri-C Performing Arts’ 2024-2025 season

Published

17 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Tickets on sale now for Tri-C Performing Arts’ 2024-2025 season

CLEVELAND, OH – The upcoming Cuyahoga Community College Performing Arts season will feature a wide array of jazz and dance performances from artists around the world.

Tickets are on sale for all six shows that will run from October 2024 through April 2025. Free parking is available in lot 5 for the shows taking place on Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C) campus.

The 2024-2025 shows include:

Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir

Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $35

Azerbaijani pianist and composer Amina Figarova and her sextet will be joined by the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, an ensemble of at-risk Liberian children.

Hélène Simoneau Danse (presented in partnership with DANCECleveland)

Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Mimi Ohio Theatre (Playhouse Square)

Tickets: $10 to $60 via Playhouse Square

The French-Canadian choreographer is coming to Cleveland for a performance that explores themes of identity, sexuality, romance and the world around us.

John Beasley’s MONK’estra

Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $35

MONK’estra is a smashing big band that captures the spirit of Thelonious Monk’s singular music in fresh arrangements flavored with contemporary sounds, ranging from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop.

Matthew Whitaker

Feb. 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre

Tickets: $35

Matthew Whitaker started playing keyboard at age 3, and by 13, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80-plus-year history. He studied at the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School in New York City, the only community music school for the blind and visually impaired in the U.S.

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart

March 26, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $45 general admission, $75 premium seats

In its 90-year history, the Count Basie Orchestra has won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for kings, queens and other world royalty, appeared in several movies and television shows and played every major jazz festival and concert hall in the world.

Raphael Xavier: Skiff (presented in partnership with DANCECleveland)

April 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., and April 13, 2025, at 2 p.m.

Tri-C John P. Murphy Foundation Theatre

Tickets: $25 and $45 via DANCECleveland

Raphael Xavier will perform Skiff, an hour-long work features guest artists including some of Northeast Ohio’s own dancers. The unique piece explores the aging body, race, privilege and power while encouraging conversations of identity, legacy and lineage. The work is contextualized through the lens of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now. For more information, visit the Tri-C Performing Arts Series webpage or call 216-987-4444.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.

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Cleveland, OH

Car crashes into market in Cleveland’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Vienna Market is left with a gaping hole after a car crashed into the Cleveland deli on Wednesday.

Car crashes into market in Cleveland’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood(WOIO)

The crash happened just after noon at 15115 Puritas Ave.

The owner told 19 News he opened the market just three months ago.

He said his son was working the front counter when a Chevy Impala smashed through the front windows and door.

His son had to jump across the other side of the counter to get out of the way, the owner said.

The entire Impala was parked in the store after pushing through the deli case and into the kitchen, the owner described.

The owner said he was already on his way to the store when he got the call that his business had been destroyed.

A witness told 19 News they saw an older man being taken away in an ambulance.

Cleveland EMS was unable to confirm his condition.

The owner said he learned the older man was a frequent customer who was behind the wheel.

Despite the ordeal, the owner said thanked God no one was seriously hurt.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

A tow truck is on scene, but the Chevy was able to be driven out of the store.

The Chevy sustained damage to the front, roof, and the rear windshield was broken.

19 News is working to confirm the extent of the structural damage done to the building.

Aside from the front door and half of the front windows broken, along with the deli case getting crushed, the market sustained damage all the way up to the drop ceiling, which has partially collapsed.

This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

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