Cleveland man faces drug and firearms charges

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Paul E. Loines, 53, of Cleveland, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. 

The indictment alleges that Loines was found to be in possession of a .22 caliber handgun and 4.94 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

Assistant United States Attorney Karrie D. Howard is prosecuting the case, following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

If convicted, the court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a 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 violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum.  In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.