News and Press Releases
Minneapolis felon indicted for possessing firearms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Recently in federal court, a 20-year-old Minneapolis felon was indicted for possessing a nine-millimeter pistol and a .44-caliber revolver. Deandre Franklin was specifically charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment, which was filed on July 23, 2012, was unsealed yesterday.
The indictment alleges that on January 2, 2012, police found Franklin in possession of a Glock, nine-millimeter pistol and a Charter Arms, .44-caliber revolver. Because he is a felon, Franklin is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms at any time. He was previously convicted of second-degree drug possession in Hennepin County in 2011.
Franklin was arrested on August 1, 2012, in Illinois, on unrelated gun charges. At this time, he remains in custody in Chicago. If convicted of the federal charge now levied against him in the District of Minnesota, Franklin will face a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. All sentences, of course, are ultimately determined by a federal district court judge.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Safe Streets Task Force. Safe Streets is a FBI-sponsored task force that focuses on combating violent street crime as well as
gang and drug trafficking offenses. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell.
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.