Akron man Gino Hunter, 27, is back behind bars — and back in the crosshairs of federal prosecutors — after being indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, stems from two separate incidents in late 2017 where Hunter allegedly handled loaded weapons despite a violent criminal past that stripped him of the right to own or use firearms.
Hunter is accused of knowingly possessing a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol on October 27, 2017, and a loaded 5.7mm Masterpiece Arms pistol just a month later on November 27, 2017. Both acts are federal violations under U.S. law, which bans anyone convicted of a felony from possessing firearms. The weapons were recovered as part of a targeted investigation by law enforcement agencies focused on violent repeat offenders.
The indictment specifically references Hunter’s 2011 conviction in Summit County Common Pleas Court for attempted murder with a firearms specification — a violent offense that automatically disqualified him from legal firearm ownership. That prior conviction now forms the backbone of the federal charges, painting Hunter as a dangerous individual who continued to arm himself despite being barred by law.
The case was built by the Akron Police Department’s Gun Violence Reduction Team, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Their joint effort highlights the ongoing push to crack down on illegal gun possession in high-crime urban zones, where repeat offenders often fuel cycles of violence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark S. Bennett is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Hunter faces a sentence determined by the court after weighing factors including his prior criminal record, role in the offense, and the nature of the violations. While the statutory maximum could mean years in federal prison, sentencing guidelines may result in a term below that cap.
It is important to note that an indictment is not a conviction. Gino Hunter is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The government bears the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. For now, the case stands as another flashpoint in the broader battle over gun control and recidivism in Northeast Ohio.
Related Federal Cases
- Rollie C. Poynter Jr. Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · Kentucky
- Arian O’Connor Gets 10 Years for Illegal Firearm Possession · Ohio
- Mark A. Simmons Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Clarksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
- Ohio County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · West Virginia
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