U.S. Attorney’s Office brings federal firearms charges in 8 cases in Dayton as part of downtown gun violence initiative

DAYTON, Ohio - Federal and local law enforcement officials announced today eight recent cases involving violations of federal firearms laws.

"It's my job as U.S. Attorney to keep our communities in Southern Ohio safe. Doing that requires strong partnerships between our local police departments and our federal law enforcement agencies. And we have those strong partnerships here in Dayton," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. "We want to make it clear to criminals, if you illegally possess or use a firearm or ammunition in Dayton, or anywhere else in our district for that matter, expect to see federal charges."

The federal defendants include:

JaMichael Craver

On Monday, March 30, federal charges were filed against JaMichael Craver for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Craver was arrested on Friday night during operations conducted by the Dayton Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative between the City of Dayton and the State of Ohio.

According to charging documents, Craver fled on foot from a vehicle being tracked by Dayton police officers and an aviation unit from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He was apprehended by officers after a foot pursuit and allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun. At the time of this incident, Craver was a wanted fugitive with multiple warrants for his arrest on state charges, including aggravated trafficking in drugs and having weapons while under disability. Craver has previously been convicted in state court of aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Terrence Gay

On March 24, Terrence Gay was charged with assaulting federal agents with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of federal agents, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Gay was a federal fugitive out of Missouri who had failed to surrender after being sentenced for drug trafficking in 2021. The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) tracked Gay to a home a Dayton on March 23. After strike team officers announced their presence and attempted to convince Gay to exit the residence, Gay opened fire on the officers. Officers ultimately secured Gay and recovered multiple weapons from the residence.

Johnny Ray Perkins and Elisah Lobbley

On March 10, Johnny Ray Perkins and Elisah Lobbley were indicted for trafficking drugs in the vicinity of the RTA bus hub in downtown Dayton. During these sales, Perkins allegedly kept a firearm on him and is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Anton Hurston

On Feb. 10, a federal grand jury in Dayton indicted Anton Hurston for possession of a firearm fitted with a high-capacity magazine during a traffic stop in Dayton's central business district.

Rondell Coleman

On Feb. 10, a federal grand jury indicted Rondell Coleman for possession of a machinegun and possession of a stolen firearm. As alleged in an earlier criminal complaint, while responding to a domestic violence incident on Feb. 1, Dayton police encountered Coleman carrying a stolen machinegun in his pants.

Dylan Hiner

On Feb. 4, Dylan Hiner pleaded guilty to illegally shipping, transporting and receiving ammunition while under indictment for a felony offense. Hiner repeatedly discharged a handgun near the University of Dayton's campus. At the time of this shooting, Hiner was under indictment on state weapons charges.

Colby Smith

On Jan. 13, Colby Smith was indicted for kidnapping, carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. As alleged in an earlier criminal complaint, during the morning of Dec. 9, 2025, Smith used a handgun to rob two Dayton-area residents of their vehicles and personal belongings as they traveled to their jobs.

Jacquan Sims, Miyauhn Vineyard, Raheem Goff and Joshua Haggins

On Dec. 9, Jacquan Sims, Miyauhn Vineyard, Raheem Goff, and Joshua Haggins were federally indicted for conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Law enforcement officials seized multiple firearms in that case, including one machinegun.

Illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possessing an unregistered firearm or a machinegun is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Illegally shipping, transporting, or receiving ammunition while under indictment for a felony offense is punishable by up to five years in prison. Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime requires a mandatory minimum of at least five years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence requires a mandatory minimum of at least seven years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed. Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence requires a mandatory minimum of at least 10 years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and United States Marshal Michael D. Black announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Mahy, Erica Lunderman, Ryan Saunders, Rob Painter and Kelly Rossi are representing the United States in these cases.

Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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