News and Press Releases
St. Paul felon indicted for possessing a .357-revolver
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed yesterday charges a 28-year-old St. Paul felon with possessing a .357-caliber revolver. The indictment charges Richard Alonzo Woods with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment, which was filed on May 15, 2012, was unsealed following Woods’ initial appearance in federal court.
The indictment alleges that on November 16, 2011, Woods possessed the Smith & Wesson revolver. Because he is a felon, Woods is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm at any time. His prior convictions – all in Ramsey County-- include third-degree sale of controlled substances (2002 and 2003), check forgery (2003), fifth-degree possession of controlled substances (2006), and possession of a firearm by an ineligible person (2006).
If convicted, Woods faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie E. Allyn and Surya Saxena.
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.
