Germantown man charged with illegally possessing firearm, destructive devices

DAYTON, Ohio – Tony Houston, 40, of Germantown, has been arrested and charged federally with possessing unregistered firearms.

According to charging documents, in May 2026, Germantown police officers responded to the Windcliff Apartments because Houston allegedly threatened two individuals with a sawed-off shotgun. Subsequent investigation led investigators to obtain a search warrants for Houston’s residence. 

On June 3, FBI agents and the FBI’s hostage rescue team executed the search warrants at Houston’s home and recovered a sawed-off shotgun, as well as at least eight apparent destructive devices, including pipe bombs. Houston was not registered to possess the short-barreled shotgun or the destructive devices. 

Houston appeared in federal court in Dayton today. 

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Germantown Police Chief Matt Burns announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter is representing the United States in this case. The Dayton Police Department's bomb squad and FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force are also coordinating on the investigation. 

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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