Hamilton, Ohio – A Hamilton man with a violent criminal history will spend the next five years in federal prison after being caught with illegal firearms, including a fully automatic weapon. Justin Ervin, 35, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison for possessing firearms despite being a previously convicted felon.
The case began in May 2024, when Hamilton police officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Ervin had been living. The search was linked to a strangulation incident that prompted law enforcement to respond to the home. Ervin has since pleaded guilty to that strangulation charge in state court.
During the search of the property, officers uncovered a dangerous stockpile. Authorities seized seven firearms, a machinegun-conversion device known as a switch, and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The switch is particularly alarming, as it can turn a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic one, which makes such weapons much more dangerous and illegal under federal law.
Due to his prior convictions for robbery and arson, Ervin is legally barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition. The discovery of the weapons and the illegal conversion device led to serious federal charges.
Following the investigation, Ervin was indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested in June 2024. He later entered a guilty plea in October 2024 to the charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and illegal possession of a machinegun conversion device.
His sentence of 60 months in prison reflects the severity of the offense and the risk posed by illegally possessing and modifying firearms. Ervin’s case highlights ongoing federal efforts to hold convicted felons accountable when they are caught with illegal weapons, especially those capable of turning into automatic firearms.
