Milwaukee Felon Convicted of Possessing a Firearm

Gregory J. Haanstad, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 23, 2017, Dontaurus Ricks (age: 42), of Milwaukee, was found guilty by a jury of his peers of possessing a firearm despite previously being convicted of a felony.

On November 20, 2016, Ricks, 42, was found in possession of a .40 caliber Springfield XD-40 semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine. The firearm was loaded at the time with twenty cartridges, and a round in the chamber. Upon being approached by police, Ricks fled (ditching marijuana, ecstasy, Xanax, and crack cocaine) but was soon apprehended. Ricks has been convicted of nine prior felonies stemming from five cases spanning over two decades.

Ricks faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by the Milwaukee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Paulson and Benjamin Taibleson.

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For additional information contact:          

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700