Aaron P. Howell
Aaron P. Howell is an experienced and talented trial lawyer, having tried more than 50 cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Aaron’s practice at Tucker Ellis focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations for public and private companies, and defending doctors, nurses, and health care systems in medical malpractice litigation.
For 18 years, Aaron honed his investigation skills and demonstrated excellence in the courtroom as a federal and state prosecutor, often handling high-stakes and complex cases in each of the offices he worked in.
As an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the District of Puerto Rico and the Northern District of Ohio, Aaron indicted hundreds of federal cases, 16 of which proceeded to jury trial, with the jury siding with Aaron in all 16 cases. As a federal prosecutor, he worked side-by-side with special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate and prosecute a wide range of criminal cases involving tax fraud, tax evasion, illegal gambling, money laundering, public corruption, health care fraud, corporate fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, racketeering, firearm offenses, kidnapping, murder, and gang violence.
Early in his career, Aaron represented the State of Ohio as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Stark and Summit County. He was entrusted with trying the most serious felony criminal matters, including his last jury trial, a death penalty case involving four murders. Aaron’s extensive experience as a federal and state prosecutor makes him well positioned to identify the best strategy and approach for clients.
Aaron also has handled appellate matters in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Ohio’s Fifth and Ninth District Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Over the years, Aaron has also served as a coach for the University of Akron School of Law’s nationally ranked mock trial team.
Away from the office, Aaron enjoys preparing meals for his friends and family in his smoker. He plays competitive slow-pitch softball and coaches his son’s baseball team. Aaron cheers for the Cleveland Browns, Guardians, and Cavs, and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
- Education
- The University of Akron School of Law (J.D., 2006); Mock Trial Team, District Champion, National Semifinalist
- The University of Akron (B.A., 2002)
- State Admissions
- Ohio, 2006
- Federal Admissions
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Assistant United States Attorney
District of Puerto Rico
- Obtained guilty verdicts of a defendant who committed four carjackings, murder, theft of a police vehicle, and firearm offenses; defendant sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment and a consecutive 130-year imprisonment term; jury trial, United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico
- Convicted a defendant of drug trafficking and firearm offenses in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security; jury trial, United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico
- Alongside DEA agents, led the investigation and indictment of 37 defendants for conspiring and trafficking kilograms of cocaine smuggled from Puerto Rico throughout the United States via drug mule
- Convicted a defendant suspected of several murders, one of which was a Puerto Rico State prosecuting attorney, of firearm offenses; jury trial, United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico
Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted three defendants of tax, gambling, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction crimes related to their operation of illegal gambling businesses in Ohio and their scheme to conceal the illicit proceeds from those businesses to avoid paying taxes; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant who had conspired with gang members of drug trafficking and firearm offenses; defendant sentenced to 29 years in prison; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant – a truck driver from South Carolina who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a young woman in Ohio – of kidnapping; defendant sentenced to 30 years in prison; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant of distributing fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted two defendants from Alabama of methamphetamine trafficking, illegal possession of 14 firearms, and stolen police body armor; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant of armed bank robbery in Brooklyn, Ohio; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant – who live-streamed his flight from law enforcement on the internet before he was arrested – of drug trafficking and firearm offenses; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted two defendants – previously convicted of homicide – of drug trafficking and firearm offenses related to their possession of various illegal drugs, body armor, and firearms; jury trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Convicted a defendant – who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase while in possession of 80 pounds of cocaine and firearms – of drug trafficking and firearm offenses; jury trial, trial, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Alongside the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Secret Service (USSS), led the simultaneous execution of more than 35 search warrants related to the investigation of illegal gambling businesses, tax violations, money laundering, and public corruption in Ohio that resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars, residences, vehicles, and the indictment and conviction of several defendants
- Prosecuted a certified public accountant for wire fraud, tax violations, and money laundering, resulting in more than one million dollars in restitution to the victim and more than two hundred thousand dollars to the IRS; defendant sentenced to 43 months in prison
Other Representative Cases
- Represented a Kansas company in a federal criminal investigation related to OSHA violations
- Represented an Ohio care facility for children with developmental disabilities in wrongful death litigation
- Represented an Ohio surgeon in medical malpractice litigation
- Represented a healthcare system in medical malpractice litigation
- Represented an Ohio attorney in a federal criminal investigation conducted by the FBI
- Represented an Ohio executive in a federal criminal investigation conducted by the IRS related to charitable tax deductions
- Represented a CEO in a criminal investigation conducted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office related to tax violations and theft allegations
- Represented an Ohio company in pursuing damages from former employees who were convicted of federal criminal offenses
- Represented a former employee of a New York-based company in a federal criminal investigation in Chicago, Illinois
- Conducted an internal investigation for an Ohio healthcare system related to allegations of misconduct by board members and doctors
- Conducted an internal investigation for a Columbus, Ohio company regarding contamination issues with the drinking water
Speaking Engagements
- “Understanding How Federal Prosecutors Obtain Wiretaps,” United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio (March 10, 2020)
- “Closing Argument,” Akron Bar Association CLE (2013)
- Teen Court Orientation, Stark County Family Court (2006–2013)
- “Juvenile Law Update,” Stark County Bar Association CLE (2009)
Publications
- “DOJ Updates Corporate Compliance Programs Guidance,” Tucker Ellis Client Alert (November 2024)
- Commendation from FDA Office of Criminal Investigations for the investigation, seizure of assets, and prosecution of several defendants in a drug trafficking and money laundering case (October 2022)
- Commendation from FBI Director Christopher Wray for the successful federal prosecution of a defendant who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a victim in Akron, Ohio (October 2019)
- Commendation from DEA Special Agents in Puerto Rico for the successful federal investigation and prosecution of two drug trafficking organizations involving over 50 defendants (June 2016)
- Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel
- Reappointment of Magistrate Judge in Cleveland (2024)
- Appointment of Magistrate Judge in Toledo (2022)
- Appointment of Magistrate Judge in Youngstown (2019)
- YMCA, T-ball coach (2022–present)
- Lake High School Mock Trial Team, Advisor (2016–2017)
- University of Akron School of Law Mock Trial Team, Coach (2006–2014)
