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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