Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Naples Man Charged With Making Destructive Devices and Firearms Violations

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is reposting this news release from the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida:


FORT MYERS - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of a six-count indictment charging Chaz T. Tierney (21, Naples) with possession and transfer of unregistered short barrel shotguns and manufacture and transfer of destructive devices. If convicted, Tierney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count.

According to the indictment, in February 2012, Tierney possessed and transferred two short barrel shotguns that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Additionally, Tierney made one or more destructive devices and then transferred them in violation of federal law. The destructive devices and their transfer were also required to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Collier County Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesus M. Casas.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF. United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, along with Virginia O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.