Federal Jury Finds Two Men Guilty of Felon in Possession of Firearms or Ammunition
First Federal Jury Trials Held Since March in the Northern District of Ohio
A federal grand jury in Cleveland and Akron this week returned separate guilty verdicts for two men charged with felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. These are separate cases and are not related. They are the first federal jury trials held in the Northern District of Ohio since March of earlier this year.
“Federal jurors in Cleveland and Akron sent a strong message to those who illegally possess weapons or ammunition,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Both of these men have a long history of previous convictions for crimes of violence– including multiple domestic violence convictions. Statistics show that domestic violence offenders with a firearm are far more likely to potentially use it against their spouse or law enforcement. These verdicts are a victory for the victims of these offenders and for the cities of Akron and Cleveland. We have not let the COVID-19 pandemic reduce the timeliness and effectiveness of our law enforcement response, and we are pleased that the criminal justice system has been able to safely move forward with jury trials during this difficult time.”
A federal jury in Cleveland convicted Jaron R. Kirkland, age 35, of Akron, on Monday, September 21, on one count of felon in possession of firearm or ammunition.
According to the indictment in this matter, on or about May 31, 2019, Kirkland knowingly possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and three rounds of ammunition for said firearm. Kirkland is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of two separate felony domestic violence charges on June 18, 2015 and November 8, 2016, both in the Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Kirkland is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2021, before Judge James S. Gwin. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Akron Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Yasmine Makridis.
A separate federal jury in Akron convicted Ronald Mickel, age 41, of Lorain, on Tuesday, September 22, on one count of felon in possession of ammunition.
According to the indictment in this matter, on November 26, 2019, Mickel knowingly possessed 32 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition. Mickel is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition after having been previously convicted of felony aggravated robbery on June 18, 1999, felony domestic violence on May 27, 2014, felony domestic violence and intimidation of a victim on July 27, 2015, felony burglary on September 30, 2015, and felony domestic violence in January of 2019, in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Mickel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2021 before Judge Sara Lioi. This case was investigated by ATF and Ohio Adult Parole Authority and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John C. Hanley and Bryson Gillard.
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