A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charting a Stark County man with firearms and narcotics violations, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Michael Lombardi, 39, of Waynesburg, Ohio, distributed methamphetamine on at least five occasions in January and February 2017, according to the indictment.
The indictment also alleges that Lombardi maintained a premises on Elson Street in Waynesburg for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine.
Lombardi possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking in methamphetamine, according to the indictment.
Lombardi was prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction for domestic violence. On Feb. 10, he possessed ammunition and the following seven firearms: a Mossberg, model 432, .22 caliber rifle, serial number C27265; a Mossberg, model 640KS, .22 caliber rifle, unknown serial number; a Ruger, model LCR, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 54045017; a Western Field, model 47C, .22 caliber rifle, serial number N339; a Winchester, model 37A, .410 caliber shotgun, serial number C058084; a Glenfield, model 60, .22 caliber rifle, serial number 27155266 and an Armalite, model M15, 5.56 caliber rifle, serial number M006554, 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 violations. 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, the Carroll and Stark Counties Sheriff’s Offices and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States 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.