Two Ravenna men were indicted on firearms and marijuana charges, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.
“These indictments demonstrate our commitment to prosecute people who carry firearms when they are not allowed by law to have them," Herdman said. “We often see drug dealers using firearms as a tool of their trade, which increases the odds of a deadly encounter."
Damen Winning, 23, was indicted on charges of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, possessing a firearm in connection drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Winning on Nov. 16, 2017 possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute the drug. He also possessed firearms in connection to his drug trafficking. Winning possessed a Glock.40 pistol and ammunition, despite a prior conviction in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas for drug trafficking, according to the indictment.
Richard Lester Thomas, 63, is charged possession with intent to distribute marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Thomas on Sept. 20, 2017 possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute the drug, and a Ruger.22 rifle and ammunition despite prior convictions for attempted possession of chemicals to manufacture controlled substances and possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs in the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, according to the indictment.
The cases are unrelated.
Both cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. The Winning investigation was conducted by the United States Marshal Service, the Akron Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The Thomas investigation was conducted by the Portage County Drug Task Force and the ATF.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
