John Ward, a 46-year-old man from Maple Heights, Ohio, was sentenced on April 10 to nearly eleven years in prison for possessing a firearm while out on parole. U.S. District Judge John R. Adams handed down the sentence of 129 months after Ward pleaded guilty in December 2025 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Ward will also serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
The case is significant as it highlights the consequences faced by individuals with prior felony convictions who violate conditions of their release by possessing firearms.
According to court documents, law enforcement encountered Ward during a liquor law compliance inspection at a Cleveland bar in August 2025. Officers observed several people drinking outside the establishment and saw Ward move away toward a vehicle as they approached. A hard object was heard hitting the ground near him, which officers recovered and identified as an FN Model 509 pistol loaded with seventeen rounds in a twenty-four-round magazine. Authorities reported that Ward appeared highly intoxicated at the time and took him into custody.
Further investigation revealed that Ward had previous convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in 2022, as well as aggravated robbery in 2010.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie A. Wojtasik and Scott C. Zarzycki prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ward’s sentencing underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to enforce gun laws among individuals with felony records.
