PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man has been federally charged after investigators say multiple firearms reported missing by airline passengers at Portland International Airport were traced to him through a tracking device hidden inside a stolen gun case.
According to federal court documents, Terell Wayne Overton, 51, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with felon in possession of a firearm and theft of a firearm.
The investigation began in June 2026 after the Port of Portland Police received a series of reports from airline passengers whose firearms failed to arrive at their destinations after traveling through Portland International Airport. Authorities said the firearms had been properly checked with the airlines but were discovered missing upon arrival.
A breakthrough came on June 28, when one victim reported that a firearm had been stolen from a locked case containing an Apple AirTag. Investigators used the AirTag’s location data to track the missing firearm to Overton and a black backpack, according to court records.
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators searched the backpack and found a locked handgun case containing the firearm reported stolen by the victim.
Overton made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday before a U.S. magistrate judge. The court ordered him released pending further proceedings.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Port of Portland Police, and the PDX Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin is prosecuting the case.
Federal officials emphasized that a criminal complaint is only an allegation, and Overton is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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