Feds: 16 charged with crimes related to Cincinnati gun violence

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Local and federal law enforcement authorities in Cincinnati announced federal charges Monday against 16 suspects as part of a gun violence initiative.

The suspects, who all have felony convictions, are under grand jury indictment for crimes related to gun violence in the city, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

The arrests come as law enforcement targets repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution. It’s a team effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

“This is just the first surge that we’ve done,” U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said at a joint news conference Monday. “We’re going to keep doing this until the violent crime goes down.”

Federal investigations into Cincinnati gun violence will continue, and DeVillers said he anticipates more charges to come.

Cincinnati is on pace to have its deadliest year ever amid unprecedented gun violence.

At least 67 people have been killed due to gun violence in 2020, according to Cincinnati police.

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“Our commitment to this is unwavering,” Cincinnati Police Chief Chief Eliot Isaac said. “Until we see reductions in t his gun violence, we’re going to continue these efforts.”

The chief said he’s already seen positive results from this and other initiatives, including a task force dedicated reducing to gun violence announced earlier in 2020.

“I think some of the great work in the past couple of months are starting to pay dividends, and I look for that trend to continue,” Isaac said.

Those being charged, according to the federal indictment, include:

• Daniel Ambrose
• Ricardo Boyd
• Kenneth Davis
• Traevon Edwards
• Willie Goldsmith
• Daryl Johnson
• Greg McIntosh
• Richard Williams-Moore
• Jeff Napier
• Rashan Robinson
• Jerome Rucker
• Recardo Sims
• Andreqio Stevens
• Darren Thomas
• Demetrius Williams
• Terrance White, of Chicago

Ambrose, 25, was arrested on Sept. 25 for his alleged roles in numerous Avondale shootings during August, officials said.

Boyd, 32, is accused of having a weapon on him when authorities say he assaulted a woman and a child in February of this year, the press release stated.

Sims, 26, is accused of being in a fight on Bowling Green Court in September where 911 calls claimed several of the people had guns, officials said.

Stevens, 41, allegedly made threats to “kill everybody” while waving a gun in the air as he stood in the parking lot of the Eatondale Apartment complex in May of this year, according to authorities.

Johnson, 28, is accused of waving a gun at students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in January 2020, officials said.

Since all of the individuals are convicted felons charged with illegally possessing a firearm, they could face up to 10 years in prison, according to DeVillers.

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