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Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Ohio
Justin E. Herdman , United States Attorney
Contact: Mike Tobin
www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh
For Immediate Release
Sunday, June 30, 2019

Canton Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Illegally Having Firearm and Ammunition

A Canton man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for illegally having a firearm and ammunition.

Riccardo Harris, 36, was sentenced to 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi last week. Harris previously pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Canton police officers responded to a shot spotter activation at the Whistle Stop Bar on October 19, 2018. Officers found several .40-caliber shell casings in the parking lot of the bar, according to court documents and court statements. 

While at the scene, officers received notification of another shot spotter activation at Harris’ residence in Canton.  When officers arrived at Harris’ residence, he walked away from the officers and went behind a parked vehicle in the driveway.

Officers searched the area where Harris walked and they located a loaded .40-caliber pistol and a spent .40-caliber shell casing. Officers then recovered one round of .40-caliber ammunition in Harris’ pocket. 

Officers determined that the .40-caliber ammunition Harris possessed matched the ammuniton in the firearm, the shell casing near the vehicle and the shell casings recovered from the Whistle Stop Bar, according to court documents and court statements. 

Harris was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due a previous conviction in Stark County for aggravated robbery.

This case was investigated by the Canton Police Department and ATF. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Howell.

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