Three Mahoning County men are facing federal firearms charges after being indicted on separate counts of illegally possessing weapons as convicted felons. U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon announced the charges, which stem from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.
James M. Simmons, 32, of Youngstown, is charged with possessing a Ruger, model P95, 9mm pistol on Feb. 3, 2016. At the time, Simmons was prohibited from owning firearms due to prior convictions for burglary, possession of cocaine, and failure to comply with order or signal of police officer—all handed down in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas.
Ricky Paige, 30, of Boardman, faces two separate firearm possession counts. He allegedly possessed a Norinco, model SKS, 7.62mm rifle on Dec. 15, 2015, and a Ruger, model P95, 9mm pistol on March 24, 2016. Paige had prior convictions for robbery, aggravated robbery, and burglary in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, making his possession of the weapons illegal under federal law.
Michael Williams, 32, of Youngstown, is charged not only with being a felon in possession of a firearm but also with possession with intent to distribute narcotics. According to the indictment, on or about July 1, 2016, Williams possessed cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, tramadol, alprazolam, and clonazepam for distribution. Days later, on July 7, 2016, he possessed a Norinco, model MAK 90 Sporter, 7.62mm rifle. Williams had prior convictions for aggravated assault and cocaine trafficking in Summit County Court of Common Pleas.
All three cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted jointly by federal and local law enforcement, underscoring the ongoing crackdown on illegal gun possession in the region. Authorities stress that these cases are not connected and were developed independently through separate investigative tracks.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, the court will determine their sentences based on factors including criminal history, role in the offense, and the nature of the violations. The maximum penalties apply under federal statute, but actual sentences may be lower. The government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
RELATED: Valley Predator Gets 23 Years for Online Abuse
RELATED: Warren Man Jailed for Mailing Hoax Powder to Ex-Employer
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More