(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm.

Twenty-seven-year-old Zachary Velling pleaded guilty on Tuesday. The Court was advised in connection with the guilty plea that on November 12th, 2024, Velling 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 that was 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.

That grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law and was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Velling’s sentencing is scheduled for January 7th, 2027, and he could face a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, provided by the law.