Couple accused of manufacturing and selling assault weapons from Moreno Valley home

A Moreno Valley couple is accused of manufacturing and selling unregistered assault weapons out of their home, authorities said.

Bearl Andrew Leach, 33, and Sarah Anne Leach, 27, face 70 felony charges, including manufacturing assault weapons and possessing a short-barrel rifle and high-capacity magazines, according to the Riverside County district attorney’s office.

Each is being held in lieu of $2-million bail. They are scheduled to be arraigned later this month.

Authorities said the investigation began when an FBI task force received a tip about threats the couple made. The nature of the threats, and to whom they were directed, was not clear.

Investigators secured a search warrant and found multiple illegal assault weapons at the couple’s home, along with evidence that led authorities to believe the two were operating as illegal gun dealers.

The assault weapons seized were unregistered and looked custom designed, authorities said. It’s unclear who was buying them.

The husband and wife were arrested Tuesday, about a week after they were indicted by a grand jury.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek