Felon charged with illegal firearm possession over Labor Day weekend

 Williams charged as part of Operation Red-Zone in Youngstown

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Andrew Kmon WILLIAMS, age 23, of Youngstown, was charged in federal court via criminal complaint as a felon in possession of firearms. WILLIAMS was charged as a firearms offender under Operation Red-Zone, a combined federal, state and local partnership to reduce gun violence over the Labor Day weekend.

“This defendant was in the Red-Zone, meaning that he was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law based on a prior felony conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Over this past Labor Day weekend, this defendant was in the Red-Zone and is alleged to have illegally possessed two firearms.  Each and every illegal firearm we can take off the streets makes our communities a safer place to live.”

According to the complaint, police identified Williams while driving a vehicle that was suspected in a previous felonious assault incident. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement agents seized two 9mm pistols. WILLIAMS later admitted to knowing that the firearms were in the vehicle. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction for possession of heroin in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas. 

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.