DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Justin E. Herdman
, United States Attorney
Contact: Mike Tobin

The U.S. Attorney's Office Charged 202 People for Firearms Crimes Last Year

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio indicted 202 people on firearms charges last year.

Broken down by geography in the district, the most people indicted came out of the Cleveland office, with 116. That was followed by the Akron office (35), Youngstown office (27) and Toledo office (24).

“Firearms prosecutions are homicide prevention,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners, local police and county prosecutors to identify those who use firearms in violent crimes or drug trafficking crimes, or possess firearms illegally, and seek the prison sentences they deserve.”

“ATF remains focused in the pursuit of those offenders who use or possess firearms in relation to violent crimes,” said Trevor A. Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Division.  “Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state, and local partners is key to attaining our goal of protecting the public and serving our nation.”

The average sentence for a firearms case sentenced last year in the Northern District of Ohio was nearly nine years in prison (104 months).

Details of selected firearms cases from last year:

U.S. v. Bowers et. al: Eleven people from Stark County were indicted for firearms violations, including firearms trafficking and an illegal sale of a machine gun.

Andre Bowers, of Canton, was charged with illegally dealing a Harrington & Richardson .32-caliber revolver, two Mossberg 12-gauge shotguns, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, a Rossi 20-gauge shotgun and a Kel-Tec 5.56 mm pistol, despite prior convictions for aggravated assault, cocaine trafficking, domestic violence, escape and other crimes.  Jesse Gulley, Ikasha Clark and Thomas Lorenz were indicted for a transaction in July 2017 in which Lorenz transferred to Gulley and Clark a Heckler and Koch, 308-caliber machine gun, according to court documents.  The cases are pending.

U.S. v. Glenn: Two men were charged in a 17-count indictment with nearly a dozen armed robberies across Northeast Ohio. Richard Glenn, Jr., of Maple Heights, and Brandon Williams, of Euclid, are charged with using firearms to rob banks, drug stores and convenience stores in South Euclid, Euclid, Wickliffe, Lyndhurst, Cleveland, Bedford Heights and Maple Heights. The case is pending

U.S. v. Ely: DeZay Ely, of Akron, was sentenced to life in prison for shooting a woman in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Ely attempted to kill a woman on July 3, 2016, by shooting her in the head. He had pleaded guilty to attempted murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

U.S. v. Powers: Seth Alan Powers of Ravenna was indicted for having eight firearms and more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence. On March 13, 2017, Powers possessed the following firearms and ammunition, after having been convicted of domestic violence in the Portage County Municipal Court in 2005: Bersa, model Thunder 45, .45 caliber pistol, serial number A59814; Keltec, model PF-9, 9mm pistol, serial number SP089; Ruger, model SR-22, .22 caliber pistol, serial number 365-33720; Walther, model HK416D, .22 caliber pistol, serial number WH013613; Mossberg, model 500A, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number R657562; Taurus, model Rossi, .22 caliber rifle, serial number 5JS244294; Taurus, model Rossi, .22 caliber rifle, serial number 5JS244352; Taurus, model Rossi, .22 rifle caliber, serial number 5JS244203; seven rounds of Hornady ammunition, .45 caliber; seven rounds other ammunition, 9 mm; nine rounds Remington ammunition, .22 caliber; two rounds assorted ammunition, 12 gauge; 1,050 rounds assorted ammunition, unknown caliber; 279 rounds assorted ammunition, unknown caliber, according to the indictment. The case is pending.

 U.S. v. Coats: Cody Coats, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to firing a shotgun during a carjacking in Euclid. Coats used an Itahca short-barreled shotgun when he carjacked an individual and stole their 2005 Chrysler Crossfire outside a Euclid bar on Aug. 14, 2017. He ultimately crashed the car on East 222nd Street near Lakeshore Boulevard following a police chase and was arrested. Coats possessed a shotgun and twenty 12-gauge shotgun shells despite a prior conviction for burglary. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

U.S. v. Cargill: Markein Cargill, of Toledo, was indicted after being arrested with 13 firearms. Cargill was indicted on one count each of possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony; possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun; possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine; and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. 

Cargill on Sept. 1, 2017, was arrested with 13 firearms, including a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with no serial number. Cargill was not allowed to possess firearms because of previous convictions for crimes involving heroin and cocaine, according to the indictment. The case is pending.

The number of people indicted for firearms violations for the previous decade:

2016: 105

2015: 126

2014: 167

2013: 207

2012: 176

2011: 218

2010: 166

2009: 156

2008: 157

2007: 191

Columbus Field Division