DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Ohio

For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Akron Man Charged as Part of Project Guardian Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence

A federal grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio returned a one-count indictment today charging Michael W. Humphries, age 28, of Akron, Ohio with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The indictment alleges that the defendant, after having been previously convicted of aggravated robbery in 2008 and two counts of aggravated assault in 2015, knowingly possessed four rounds of Winchester 12-gauge shotgun ammunition, which was found during a lawful search of the defendant’s residence.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This prosecution is part of Project Guardian, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that surges federal and local law enforcement resources to communities’ most violent neighborhoods in order to root out offenders and build positive relationships with victims, witnesses and community members.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.

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Columbus Field Division