Men from Cleveland and Euclid indicted for federal firearms violations

Two men from Northeast Ohio were indicted on federal firearms charges.

Steven Kennedy, 29, of Euclid, and Eric T. Gibson, Jr., 23, of Cleveland, were both indicted for being felons in possession of firearms.

Gibson possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on July 13 despite a previous conviction for robbery with a firearm specification, according to the indictment.

Kennedy possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition on Aug. 21, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to the indictment.

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 violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than maximum. 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Deckert following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police (Gibson) and the Euclid Police Department (Kennedy).

An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.