News and Press Releases
Bemidji armed career criminal indicted for possessing a .357-revolver
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court, a 27-year-old armed career criminal from
Bemidji was charged in a superseding indictment for possessing a .357-caliber revolver. The
indictment charges Edward McCabe Robinson with one count of being an armed career
criminal in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on August 28, 2011, Robinson
possessed the gun.
Because he is a felon, Robinson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or
ammunition at any time. His prior convictions include first-degree burglary (juvenile
adjudication) in Itasca County (1998), first-degree burglary in St. Louis County (2003) and
felon in possession of a firearm as well as fleeing police in a motor vehicle in Anoka County
(2007).Since at least three of Robinson’s past felony convictions were for crimes of violence or
serious drug offenses, he is subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act in this case. That act
mandates a minimum 15-year sentence if Robinson is convicted in the current federal case.
According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the present federal case, Bemidji police
arrested Robinson on August 28, at an apartment complex, on an outstanding warrant for a
parole violation. Reportedly, an officer encountered Robinson at the rear of the complex.
Specifically, the police officer came upon a group of men sitting on a patio. When the officer
identified himself and asked the men to show their hands, a man, later identified as Robinson, allegedly ran into a nearby apartment. Inside the apartment, officers found Robinson hiding in a
laundry room. After Robinson was arrested, officers found the weapon in the laundry room.
If convicted, Robinson faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. All sentences
will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by
the Bemidji Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.
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 work to make our communities safer.
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.
