Michael J. Blair, Firearm Possession, Ohio 2020

DAYTON, Ohio - Michael J. Blair, 21, of Dayton, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime.

On October 29, Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose handed down the sentence in U.S. District Court.

According to court documents, in August 2018, law enforcement were conducting surveillance with the assistance of an airplane. During surveillance, those in the airplane observed Blair moving back and forth across a vacant field in Dayton conducting what appeared to be multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions with cars that pulled up in an alley.

Law enforcement searched an area of brush to the side the alley where they had observed Blair and discovered two firearms, an extended magazine loaded with a total of 27 live rounds, fentanyl, cocaine and $1,060. In addition to the handguns, drugs and money, officers found pieces of paper labeled “GEEK,” a term commonly used to refer to drug users. The papers included numerous phone numbers listed on the papers with some also indicating what kind of drug they normally purchase.

Blair pleaded guilty in May 2019. As part of his sentence, he forfeited two 9mm pistols. Blair had previously been convicted of burglary in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the centerpiece of the government’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman commended the investigation by the Dayton Police Department and FBI, and the assistance of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and ATF, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith, who is representing the United States in this case.

Blair had previously been convicted of burglary in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court and forfeited two 9mm pistols as part of his sentence.

The investigation was assisted by the Dayton Police Department, FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and ATF, with Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith representing the United States in this case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/convicted-felon-sentenced-possessing-firearm