BOSTON, April 9, 2013—A man and woman were arraigned on multiple firearms charges yesterday after workers looking for bedbugs instead discovered firearms hidden under a mattress, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office said.

SAYIRA COOPER (D.O.B. 3/30/89) of the South End and DANNIE LEVY (D.O.B. 4/12/83) of Mattapan were each arraigned on 11 counts each of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, two counts of possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number, and one count each of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, improper storage of a large capacity weapon, and unsafe storage with a minor present.  Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Weinstein requested bail for both defendants be set at $100,000, and that they be subject to GPS monitoring, abide by a curfew, and comply with any requirements set forth by the Department of Children and Families.  Judge Raymond Dougan set bail for Cooper at $3,500 and for Levy at $7,500 and imposed the requested conditions.

At approximately 10:40 a.m. Friday, pest control workers supervised by a Boston Housing Authority employee entered Cooper’s apartment at 16 East Brookline St. for a scheduled inspection of the property for bedbugs.  They lifted a mattress and instead discovered something much more menacing – a Ruger .380 semiautomatic and a Glock .357, prosecutors said.  The workers secured the unit and waited for police to arrive.

Boston Housing Authority Police entered the apartment to find a 2-year-old child sitting unattended, prosecutors said.  He was brought outside of the unit, where he was watched by a BHA manager, and officers found Cooper and Levy so fast asleep in a bedroom that they were initially unable to rouse the couple, according to prosecutors.

Once they finally awoke, officers removed them from the bedroom and Boston Police responded to the scene.  Under a mattress, Boston Police confirmed the presence of a loaded Glock .357 with a 12-round magazine and an obliterated serial number and a loaded Ruger .380 loaded with six rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.

Boston Police obtained a search warrant and discovered a safe under the bed Cooper and Levy were sleeping in.  Inside the safe were a loaded Smith & Wesson .380 caliber revolver with a defaced serial number, a loaded Taurus five shot .45 caliber revolver and a North American Arms .22 caliber revolver, according to prosecutors.  Police also found ammunition, prosecutors said.

The 2-year-old child was transported to his grandmother’s house at Cooper’s request.

It was the second time in recent weeks that city employees stumbled upon illegal weapons in the course of their duties. ARIANNA TALBERT (D.O.B. 7/7/89) of Dorchester was arraigned April 1 after firefighters arrived at her Lyon Street apartment to extinguish a mattress fire only to find a Tec 9 under the mattress.  Police additionally found a shotgun and ammunition, prosecutors said.  She was ordered held on $2,500 bail.

Cooper is represented by Mike Doolin.  Levy is represented by Billy Keefe.  Both will return to court on May 8.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.