Cleveland men arrested for gun smuggling; One was charged with murder-for-hire

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Two Cleveland men accused of trafficking firearms and smuggling them abroad have been arrested, FBI investigators say. One of the suspects is even charged in connection with an alleged murder plot.

Federal agents with the FBI Cleveland Division arrested 66-year-old George Baynes, aka Issa Yusef, and 48-year-old Aaron Betts on Friday.

According to court documents, Baynes allegedly bought and sold new and stolen firearms to smuggle them out of the country.

Investigators say Baynes also recruited Betts to buy firearms at a gun show in the Cleveland area.

“Betts purchased and sold multiple firearms to Baynes, a known felon, and also understood that the weapons were to be shipped overseas,” according to an FBI complaint in Cleveland.

The complaint alleges that Baynes also gave “a cooperating witness” firearms and a gas mask to smuggle abroad and discussed smuggling parts to make pipe bombs.

Baynes also asked the witness to murder someone he knew, the lawsuit says.

Both Baynes and Betts face various weapons charges, including selling or disposing of a firearm to a convicted felon, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, trafficking in firearms and conspiracy to traffic in firearms.

Baynes faces additional charges related to attempted smuggling of goods from the United States and murder for hire.

They are being held in custody awaiting preliminary hearings.