Four Charged with Making False Statement to Purchase Firearms at Licensed Youngstown Area Dealer
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging four individuals with making a false statement during the purchase of firearms and possession of firearms by a person with prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
Named in the indictment are Miechelle Barnes, 28, Dawon Maddox, 39, both of Youngstown, Ohio, Richard May, 19, and Davontae McCall, 19, both of Pittsburgh.
The indictment alleges that on or about February 18, 2021, Barnes intentionally deceived a licensed firearms dealer by representing that she was purchasing several firearms for herself when in fact, she was purchasing the firearms for another individual.
In addition, the indictment alleges that on or about April 23, 2021, Maddox illegally possessed three semiautomatic pistols. Maddox is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2002 conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence.
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.
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 the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ATF. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.
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.
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