United States of America v. Zachary Velling

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of 26 U.S.C. 5861(d).

Reported by: Kent Morlan

on November 12, 2024, Zachary Velling, 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia, entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling’s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

The Defendant elected to plead guilty.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.