Columbus, Ohio – A man who was found with several loaded weapons near John Glenn Columbus International Airport earlier this month is now facing a federal firearms charge, adding to the serious nature of his arrest.
William T. Griffith III, a 40-year-old man from Delaware, was arrested on January 9 after a 4 a.m. 911 call reported a trespasser in a construction area at the airport. When officers arrived, they encountered Griffith and discovered an alarming cache of weapons and gear.
According to court documents, officers found four firearms, including an AK-style rifle, a shortened shotgun, and two handguns, along with several rounds of ammunition. Griffith was also dressed in military-style fatigue trousers, and law enforcement recovered body armor with ceramic plates and a ballistic helmet equipped with night vision close to where he was taken into custody.
Griffith has now been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
Records show that in 2011, Griffith was convicted of kidnapping, which prohibits him under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
He appeared in federal court in Columbus, and the criminal case was unsealed at that time. The investigation remains active, and Griffith could face significant prison time if convicted on the federal charge. Authorities have not indicated any additional charges but emphasized that the presence of loaded weapons and tactical gear near a major airport was taken extremely seriously.
