COLUMBUS, OH – Antoine Dwayne Riley, 37, of Columbus, is facing a hefty federal prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of illegally possessing firearms. The conviction comes despite a prior federal drug conviction that already barred him from owning weapons, according to authorities.
The case unfolded after Columbus police responded to a harrowing domestic violence call on East 13th Avenue on November 13, 2022. Victims told officers Riley allegedly pushed a woman to the ground and then brutally stomped on her face. A possible handgun on the premises prompted heightened concern.
Police found Riley holed up in a room, refusing to cooperate for hours. When he finally surrendered, a search of his bedroom revealed a disturbing arsenal: a 12-gauge shotgun and a multi-caliber rifle. Riley’s previous conviction in 2009 for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine, along with a firearm charge related to that drug trafficking, made his current possession illegal.
Federal prosecutors presented the evidence, leading to the jury’s verdict on November 14. Riley was indicted in June 2023. He now faces a potential prison term of up to 15 years – the maximum penalty set by Congress for the crime. The actual sentence will be determined by the court, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other factors.
The case was a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and the Columbus Division of Police. U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick, and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant jointly announced the outcome.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer M. Rausch and Damoun Delaviz prosecuted the case. The conviction underscores the ongoing federal effort to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons and those with a history of violent crime, especially in light of the brutal circumstances leading to the discovery of the weapons.
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