Steven M. Dettelbach, Firearms Indictments, Ohio 2023

U.S. Attorney's Office Files 167 Firearms Indictments in Ohio

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio filed 167 firearms indictments last year, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced.

These indictments are a result of the office's collaborative efforts with law enforcement partners to target individuals who carry firearms, ammunition, and sometimes body armor despite prior felony convictions, or those who help prohibited people to obtain firearms.

The most indictments filed came out of the Cleveland office, with 86, followed by the Youngstown office (34), Akron office (27), and Toledo office (20).

Details of selected cases include:

Operation Samson II

Sixty people were indicted and 110 firearms were seized as part of a summerlong enhanced enforcement initiative targeting the criminal possession, use, and sale of firearms in Greater Cleveland. Forty-two people were indicted in federal court while 18 people were indicted in state court. Charges include engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of unregistered firearms that had been modified (sawed-off shotguns), possession and sale of firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and related drug counts.

The indictments are the result of "Operation Samson II," which was organized around three operational groups. The first used undercover operations to investigate people known to criminally possess, use, and sell firearms, as well as people possessing firearms while conducting drug activities. The second group, referred to as the "Follow the Gun Group," used firearms trace data and ballistics information from the National Ballistics Information Network to pursue leads related to firearms that have been diverted from legal commerce to criminal use. The third group involved ATF Industry Operations conducting inspections at Cleveland-area federal firearms licensees to ensure that dealers are selling firearms in accordance with federal law and regulations.

United States v. Barnette

Jeremy P. Barnette, 28, of Ravenna, was charged with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The indictment alleges that on or about March 27, 2014, Barnette, in connection with the acquisition of the following firearms: a Norinco, Model 84S-1, 5.56x45 rifle; a Ruger, Model 03800, 45 ACP pistol; and a Glock, Model 19, 9mm pistol, from Ohio Trading, 8855 State Street, NE, Louisville, Ohio, stated on the Firearm Transaction Report that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when he was, in fact, purchasing the firearms for another individual who was a convicted felon. His case remains pending.

United States v. Powell

Lewis Powell, 37, of Warren, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for being an unlicensed dealer willfully engaged in the business of dealing firearms and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Powell sold 20 firearms, including three with obliterated serial numbers, as well as heroin, according to court documents.

United States v. Green

Michael Green, 34, of Niles, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms, ammunition, and body armor. Green possessed a MAADI, model RML, 7.62" x 39" rifle; a Ruger, model SR40, .40 caliber pistol; 97 rounds of 7.62" x 39" ammunition; 16 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and body armor after he had previously been convicted of burglary, assault on a peace officer, and failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer.

United States v. Thompson et. al

Jemel E. Thompson, 25, of Ashtabula, was charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. His case remains pending.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/us-attorneys-office-filed-167-firearms-indictments-last-year