CINCINNATI, OH – Nahya Wimpye, 23, is headed back to prison after a federal judge handed down a 54-month sentence for illegally possessing a high-powered pistol – while already facing legal trouble for other gun crimes. The sentence, imposed Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole, sends a clear message: repeat offenders will face the full weight of the law.
The case began on Christmas Day 2020, when Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a vehicle near Lockland for a minor brake light violation. Wimpye was a passenger in the car, and a search revealed a Century Arms, Micro Draco, 7.62×39 millimeter semi-automatic pistol loaded with 18 rounds. Forensic analysis by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office Crime Lab confirmed Wimpye’s DNA was on the weapon, described by U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker as “essentially the pistol equivalent of an AK-47.”
What makes this case particularly troubling is Wimpye’s history. He was already on post-release control following a two-year stint in state prison for – you guessed it – illegally possessing a firearm. The Christmas Day arrest didn’t deter him. Court records show that just a month later, in February 2021, Wimpye was found with another firearm while still awaiting a hearing on his post-release violations. He then compounded matters by getting arrested in Tennessee on separate felony charges while out on bond.
A federal grand jury finally indicted Wimpye in October 2021 on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He eventually pleaded guilty in September 2022, seemingly acknowledging the overwhelming evidence against him. U.S. Attorney Parker stated that reducing violent crime “sometimes means punishing those who demonstrate that they are repeatedly a threat to community safety.” This case appears to be a prime example.
The investigation was a joint effort by the ATF, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lockland Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division, along with Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and Lockland Police Chief Chris Bundren, all announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley prosecuted the case.
Wimpye’s 54-month sentence is a harsh reminder that possessing illegal firearms, especially with a prior record, carries significant consequences. For a city already grappling with gun violence, this conviction offers a small measure of relief, though the underlying problems remain. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking in the region.
Related Federal Cases
- Brandon Tavarious Purdy, Felony Firearm Possession, Virginia 2024 · Ohio
- Steven Eugene Johnson, Gun and Homemade Silencer Possession, TN 2018 · Ohio
- Jeff Landry, Firearm Purchase Tracking, Louisiana 2024 · Alaska
- Justin Jerome Jones, Federal Firearms Standoff, TN 2024 · Ohio
- Jeremy D Stidham, Gun Theft and Sales Conspiracy, KY 2017 · Ohio
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