Eric L. McReynolds Indicted on Drug, Gun Charges

A 46-year-old Canton man is staring down a federal indictment after being caught with crack cocaine, multiple firearms, and drug trafficking tools, according to a September 15, 2016 seizure that sparked a full ATF investigation.

Eric L. McReynolds was formally charged on four counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio confirmed.

McReynolds, previously convicted of robbery and aggravated robbery, is legally barred from owning guns or ammunition—yet authorities say they recovered several firearms during the operation. The indictment states the weapons and narcotics were in his possession at the time of the arrest.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, building a case that links McReynolds’ illegal gun ownership directly to his alleged drug operation. Prosecutors argue the weapons were not for protection but for enforcement and intimidation in drug trafficking.

The case is now in the hands of Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell, who will seek conviction on all counts. If found guilty, McReynolds faces a mandatory minimum sentence on the firearm count, stacked on top of drug distribution penalties.

An indictment is not a conviction. McReynolds is entitled to a fair trial, and the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Sentencing, should he be convicted, will weigh his prior record, role in the offenses, and the severity of the violations.