Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Seven men from Cuyahoga County were indicted on federal firearms charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja and Trevor Velinor, ATF Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division.

Indicted are: Deonte Tate, 33; Michael Simpson, 38; Rondell Harris, 28; Isaac Hobbs, 34; Michael D. Gaines, 38; Russell G. Jackson, 32, and Andre Hatcher, 24. All the men live in Cleveland but Gaines, who lives in Maple Heights.

“This group of defendants included armed robbers, drug traffickers and a rapist, all of whom continued to carry guns and ammo the way other people carry a lunch box or briefcase,” Sierleja said. “We will keep working to take violent predators off the streets.”

“ATF is committed to combating gun violence throughout our country,” Velinor said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level to make our communities safer.”

Tate had a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition on April 25, despite having prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery with a firearm specification and felonious assault, drug trafficking and having weapons under disability, according to the indictment.

Simpson had a .38-caliber revolver on June 15, despite prior felony convictions for robbery, abduction, felonious assault and having weapons under disability, according to the indictment.

Harris had a 9 mm pistol on June 2 despite prior felony convictions for gross sexual imposition, having weapons under disability and possession of a deadly weapon while under detention, according to the indictment.

Hobbs had a .22-caliber long rifle on June 5 despite prior felony convictions including aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, attempted felonious assault and assault on a peace officer, according to the indictment.

Gaines had a 9 mm pistol and ammunition on June 14 despite prior felony convictions for rape, drug trafficking and assault on a peace officer, according to the indictment.

Jackson had a sawed-off shotgun, a .40-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 9 despite prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

Hatcher had a 9 mm pistol and ammunition on June 5 despite prior felony convictions for robbery with a firearms specification and felonious assault, according to the indictment.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the police departments of Cleveland, Solon and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, 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.

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

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