Four convicted felons are facing federal charges in Cleveland for illegally possessing firearms—each case a stark reminder of how guns continue to flow into the hands of those barred from owning them. Indicted by a federal grand jury, the defendants—Diante Colthirst, Alaric Holloway, Samuel James McCrimon Jr., and Cedric Roberson—stand accused of violating federal law by wielding deadly weapons despite extensive criminal histories.
Diante Colthirst, 30, of Cleveland, was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm after allegedly being found with a 9mm pistol on March 2, 2020. Colthirst’s past includes felony convictions for attempted felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, having weapons while under disability, felonious assault, and aggravated robbery—all handed down by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The ATF, aided by the Orange Police Department, led the probe, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki handling prosecution.
Alaric Holloway, 30, of Lorain, faces two counts of felon in possession—one for a 9mm pistol allegedly held on February 26, 2020, and another for possession of spent shell casings on May 25, 2020. Holloway was previously convicted of intimidation, drug trafficking, felonious assault, and domestic violence in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. The FBI, with support from the Lorain Police Department, investigated the case, which is now being prosecuted by Zarzycki.
Samuel James McCrimon Jr., 29, of Cleveland, was indicted on one count of possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition on June 10, 2020. McCrimon’s criminal record includes a burglary conviction in Cuyahoga County and a felonious assault conviction in Lucas County. The ATF, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Service and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Kane is leading the prosecution.
Cedric Roberson, 52, of North Olmsted, was hit with two counts: felon in possession of a .32 caliber revolver and possession of a firearm by someone with prior misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Roberson was allegedly armed on May 8, 2020. He has prior domestic violence convictions from 2008, 2013, and 2019 in Cuyahoga and Lorain County courts. The FBI, assisted by the Elyria Police Department, investigated, and Scott C. Zarzycki is prosecuting.
It’s critical to note: an indictment is not a conviction. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, sentencing will be determined by the court, weighing factors like prior records, role in the offense, and severity of the violation. While statutory maximums apply, actual sentences often fall below those limits. The cases underscore the federal government’s aggressive stance on illegal gun possession among repeat offenders.
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