A pre-dawn call from construction workers at John Glenn Columbus International Airport ended with a federal indictment, after authorities say a convicted felon was caught with an apparent cache of weapons and tactical gear just outside the new terminal project.
A federal grand jury in Columbus has indicted William T. Griffith, 40, of Delaware, Ohio, on a charge of illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon following his Jan. 9 arrest near the new-terminal construction site. Officers say they ultimately recovered multiple rifles and handguns, rounds of ammunition, body armor and a ballistic helmet with night-vision gear at or near the scene. No injuries were reported, and the case is now pending in federal court.
Airport Response and Search
Shortly before 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 9, construction personnel reported a suspicious person near an administrative area of the new-terminal worksite. Airport police say they responded and took Griffith into custody.
According to Fly Columbus, officers found weapons and ammunition in two locations, including the suspect’s vehicle, and notified federal partners from the FBI and TSA to assist. The airport authority said the airport remained open while officers conducted a sweep of the construction site.
Federal Complaint and the Indictment
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said in a Jan. 20 press release that it filed a federal criminal complaint after agents recovered what it described as an AK-style rifle, a shortened shotgun and two handguns, along with several rounds of ammunition. The office noted Griffith was dressed in military-style fatigues and that body armor with ceramic plates and a ballistic helmet with night-vision equipment were discovered nearby.
That criminal complaint has now been followed by a federal grand jury indictment that charges Griffith with illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon. For the government’s account of the case, see the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Law and Griffith’s Record
Local reporting notes Griffith was convicted of kidnapping in 2011, a prior felony that prosecutors say makes him legally barred from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) makes it unlawful for anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison to possess firearms or ammunition, a statute that sits at the center of the government’s case. Coverage by WOSU of the earlier arrest and complaint also confirms the list of weapons and tactical gear recovered during the January response.
What’s Next
Scioto Valley Guardian reports the indictment was returned this week and reiterates that no injuries were reported at the scene.
The case remains pending in federal court in Columbus, and prosecutors emphasize that criminal complaints and indictments contain only allegations. Griffith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Airport officials, meanwhile, told Fly Columbus that the fast action of construction partners helped secure the site and keep airport operations running while law enforcement conducted its sweep and continued the investigation.
