News and Press Releases
Golden Valley felon sentenced for possessing
two semi-automatic handguns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS – Earlier today in federal court, a 40-year-old felon from Golden Valley
was sentenced for possessing a .10-caliber, semi-automatic pistol and a nine-millimeter pistol.
United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Lashawn Kenyatta Nicks to 84
months in federal prison on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nicks was
indicted on November 2, 2010, and pleaded guilty on March 7, 2011.
In his plea agreement, Nicks admitted that on October 1, 2009, he possessed two pistols: the
.10-caliber semi-automatic referenced above as well as a nine-millimeter. The guns were seized
by police during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s apartment. That search
occurred in response to a tip.
Because he is a felon, Nicks is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms at any
time. His prior felonies include convictions in Hennepin County for attempted aggravated
robbery in 1994 and second-degree assault in 1999, as well as burglary in Illinois in 1991.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Golden Valley Police Department and the
U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Julie E. Allyn.
Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), an initiative launched by the
U.S. Justice Department in 2001 to promote a multi-jurisdictional, comprehensive approach to
reducing gun crime in America. PSN provides resources to strengthen law enforcement and
crime prevention partnerships that are working to make our streets and communities safer.
