Federal grand jury indicts man arrested with weapons near airport

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A federal grand jury today indicted the man who allegedly had multiple loaded guns near the John Glenn Columbus International Airport last month.

William T. Griffith, 40, of Delaware, Ohio, was charged by federal criminal complaint in January. The indictment returned today charges him with illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

According to charging documents, on Jan. 9, local law enforcement responded to a 911 call at approximately 4am regarding Griffith trespassing in a construction area at the airport. Law enforcement officers discovered firearms at the scene. The indictment details Griffith possessing a rifle, a pistol and a revolver.

At the time of Griffith's arrest, he was dressed in military-style fatigue trousers. Body armor with ceramic plates and a ballistic helmet with night vision were also located nearby.

In 2011, Griffith was convicted of kidnapping, prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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