Former U.S. Military Member Indicted for Possessing Firearms and Ammunition, Explosives and Anabolic Steroids

(Norfolk, VA) - Elbert Tillman, Jr., age 35, of Suffolk, was indicted yesterday on charges of possessing firearms by an unlawful user of controlled substances; possessing explosives by an unlawful user of a controlled substance; unlawful storage of explosive material; possessing a controlled substance; and possessing firearms not registered to him in the National Firearm and Transfer Record. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement. If convicted, Tillman faces a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison.

Tillman was arrested after a search warrant of his property was executed on December 29, 2007. The search resulted in the seizure of 21 rifles and handguns; explosive materials, including C-4 plastic explosives, a Claymore antipersonnel mine, incendiary grenades, detonation cord, blasting caps; and anabolic steroids. According to the indictment, Tillman, a former military member, had access to certain explosives and destructive devices during his military service.

This case was investigated by the Suffolk Police and Fire Departments, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Stoker is prosecuting the case for the United States. Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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