A Chambersburg Borough man, Johan Mendez-Ledesma, has been charged with multiple felonies after inadvertently leaving a gun and cocaine on a Sheetz counter in December. On December 31st, charges were filed against him, and he was arraigned on January 7th. The charges include felony firearm possession without a license, felony possession of narcotics with intent to deliver, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Mendez-Ledesma has been released on an unsecured bail of $2,500.
Chambersburg PD received a call at approximately 7:10am on December 1st regarding a discovered firearm at the Sheetz located on Monticello Court in the Borough. The staff at Sheetz had found a Nike shoulder bag overnight and had securely stored it in a safe for later retrieval by CPD.
According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), they discovered various items in the bag. These items included a SAR9 Sarsilmaz 9mm pistol, a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition, a tube of TKTX topical numbing agent commonly used for tattooing, a bright yellow car air freshener, a plastic bag containing smaller bags typically used for drug portioning and packaging, and a torn corner of a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance. Upon testing, CPD confirmed that the substance was indeed cocaine.
According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), Johan Mendez-Ledesma legally purchased the firearm, although he did not possess a valid concealed carry license. After reporting his missing gun, Mendez-Ledesma was informed by the police that it had been discovered inside a Nike bag. While he acknowledged being the owner of the gun and air freshener, Mendez-Ledesma denied any ownership of the drugs and paraphernalia found alongside them.
According to Sheetz, they have released a video to the CPD which allegedly shows Mendez-Ledesma approaching a food kiosk, placing an order, and setting his bag on the counter. It is reported that Mendez-Ledesma then leaves the store with his food but without his bag.
Johan Mendez-Ledesma is currently free and is awaiting his next court hearing.
