Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Akron Man Twice Convicted for Domestic Violence Indicted for Possession of a Firearm
Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio has returned a two-count indictment charging Michael D. McCullough, age 44, of Akron with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a domestic violence conviction.
“Prosecuting individuals who unlawfully possess a firearm with a domestic violence conviction has been a priority for the Northern District during my tenure,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Last year, the District charged 17 defendants with possession of a firearm while prohibited by the Violence Against Women Act. We will continue to prosecute these types of cases as statistics show that domestic violence offenders with a firearm are far more likely to use it against their spouse or law enforcement.”
According to the indictment, on March 12, 2020, the defendant illegally possessed a .380 caliber pistol with previous felony convictions. McCullough is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of drug abuse and aggravated drug trafficking in 1995 in the Court of Common Pleas of Summit County, domestic violence, a misdemeanor, in 1997 in the Municipal Court of Akron, and a second charge of domestic violence, a felony, in 2006 in the Court of Common Pleas of Summit County.
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.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF and Akron Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Damoun Delaviz.
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