Orange County Man Pleads Guilty To Mail Theft And Firearm Offense

Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Ryan Anthony Aheran (28, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to mail theft and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Aheran faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to five years’ imprisonment for the mail theft offense. Ahearn has also agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the commission of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on October 1, 2024, Aheran stole more than 1,000 pieces of mail from a U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Orlando. He was arrested on October 25, 2024, on a criminal complaint related to that mail theft incident. In connection with his arrest, Ahearn was observed carrying a black bag, in which law enforcement later located a loaded firearm, cash, mail addressed to others, and a debit card in Aheran’s name. At the time, Aheran had multiple prior felony convictions, including burglary of a conveyance, possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.