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West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Flashbang Grenade Onto Plane

Zachary Velling, 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm after attempting to bring a flashbang grenade through airport security.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 3, 2026, 10:37 a.m. ET
A Morgantown, West Virginia, man guilty in federal court to possessing an unregistered firearm, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced on September 3, 2026. Zachary Velling, 27, entered the plea on September 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak. According to the plea, on November 12, 2024, Velling placed his carry-on luggage through an x-ray machine at Pittsburgh International Airport. Transportation Security Administration representatives noticed a suspicious object, and Allegheny County Police officers determined it to be an MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law and was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2027. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Joseph Sonson. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Transportation Security Administration.

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  1. Version 13 Sept 2026, 14:37current

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