Department of Justice

CINCINNATI – Sixteen people living in Cincinnati have been arrested and charged with federal gun crimes in the third wave of federal cases filed as part of Cincinnati’s initiative to reduce gun violence.

Fifteen are convicted felons. They are all charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a crime punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.

The defendants include one man, Carl Godfrey, who is now also facing state charges as part of a murder-for-hire plot. Another defendant, Kendall Black, led police on a six-mile chase last October that ended in a crash. Other defendants have been connected to incidents of shots fired and dealing illegal drugs including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The Gun Crimes Task Force, which includes the Cincinnati Police and ATF, recovered stolen weapons and stolen CPD body armor during this third wave.

One defendant, Darius Hillman-Carter is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime, punishable by a minimum of five years in federal prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel, ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the cases today. In late September, the officials announced gun-related charges filed against 16 other individuals in Cincinnati. Charges against twenty more were announced in November.

The aim of the initiative is to identify repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution.

“We are committed to getting guns out of the hands of people who have already been convicted of violent crimes and are prohibited under federal law from owning, possessing or controlling firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Enforcement is not the only answer to reducing violent crime facing our communities, but without enforcement, there is no answer.”

“ATF’s core mission is to investigate criminal cases against individuals who illegally possess and use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland H. Herndon, Jr. “We will continue to work with our partners in the greater Cincinnati area to ensure that persons who foster violence in our communities are dealt with accordingly.”

Those charged include:

Patel also acknowledged the participation of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters for sharing their expertise and information in building federal cases against the defendants.

Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Brucato, Julie Garcia, Timothy Oakley, Anthony Springer, Ebunoluwa Taiwo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Stachowiak with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office and Zach Kessler with the Cincinnati Law Department are representing the United States in the cases.