Seven people from Northeast Ohio indicted on federal firearms charges

Seven people were indicted on federal firearms charges.

Indicted are: Demond C. Smart, 29, of Akron; Eric S. Smith, 49, of Akron; Leighland Johnson, 33, of Youngstown; Russell Littlejohn, 31, of Cleveland; Howard Frost, 39, of Lorain; Edward Campbell III, 27, of Youngstown and Essence D. Williams, 23, of Youngstown.

Smart is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

Smart was arrested on Aug. 29 with a TK firearm following a chase in which Smart was driving a stolen car. Smart has previous convictions that prohibit him from having a firearm, including for felonious assault and firearms crimes, according to the indictment.

Smith is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Smith possessed a J.P. Sauer and Sohn .357 Magnum Western Marshal revolver on June 17, despite previous convictions for assault with a deadly weapons, attempted battery with a deadly weapon and other crimes, according to the indictment.

Johnston is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He possessed a Glock .40-caliber pistol and ammunition despite a previous conviction for robbery, according to the indictment.

Frost on Sept. 17 possessed a Raven MP-25 pistol and ammunition, despite a previous conviction for drug trafficking. Frost also possessed 17 grams of fentanyl and 2 grams of crack cocaine, according to the indictment.

Campbell is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm while Williams is charged with aiding and abetting.

Campbell possessed a Smith & Wesson, 9mm pistol, a Taurus, 9mm pistol, and a Century Arms, 7.62 rifle on March 5, 2018, despite a previous federal conviction for racketeering. He was aided and abetted by Essence D. Williams in the possession of these firearms, according to the indictment.

Littlejohn is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Littlejohn possessed a Phoenix Arms, Model HP22A, .22 caliber pistol, and ten rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on Oct. 10, after having been previously convicted of robbery with a firearm specification in 2010 and felonious assault, according to the indictment.

If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, 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 the maximum.

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.

The Smart and Smith cases were investigated by the ATF and Akron Police Department and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Daly. The Littlejohn case was investigated by the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority and ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson. The other cases were investigated by the ATF and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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.