Skip to main content
Press Release

Five From Mahoning Valley Indicted On Federal Firearms Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

Five men from the Mahoning Valley were indicted this week on unrelated cases of being felons in possession of firearms or ammunition, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Indicted are: Michael Harver, 24, of Poland; Jawonn Hymes, 22, of Boardman; Andre L. Owens, 38, of Warren; Thomas I. Sledge, 33, of Struthers, and Carl D. Washington, 25, of Warren.

“We will continue to work to get firearms and ammunition off the street and out of the hands of felons who are forbidden by law from having them in the first place,” Dettelbach said. “Cases like this are possible because of the efforts of federal agents and local police working together.”

Harver is accused of having an FIE .38-caliber pistol and ammunition on April 28, 2013, despite a conviction for felonious assault in Mahoning County.

Hymes is accused of having a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 27, 2013, despite previous convictions of trafficking in drugs and possession of cocaine in Mahoning County.

Owens is accused of having 9 mm Winchester bullets on May 27, 2013, despite numerous convictions in Trumbull County and Washington County (Pennsylvania) for crimes including sexual battery and multiple cocaine offenses.

Sledge is accused of having a CZ .40-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 5, 2013, despite numerous convictions in Trumbull County, including attempted murder with a firearm specification, felonious assault, having weapons under disability and other crimes.

Washington is accused of having an H&R .22-caliber revolver and ammunition on May 30, 2013, despite previous convictions for felonious assault, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence in Trumbull County.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Youngstown Field Office, the Warren Police Department, the Struthers Police Department, the Youngstown Police Department and the Boardman Police Department.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases they 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.

Updated March 12, 2015