Burnsville Man Sentenced For Possessing A Stolen Firearm

MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court, a 21-year-old Burnsville man was sentenced for possessing a stolen .40-caliber, semi-automatic pistol. On July 9, 2013, United States District Court Judge Joan N. Ericksen sentenced Wesley Rayvon Johnson to 84 months in prison on one count of possessing a stolen firearm. Johnson was charged on February 21, 2013, and pleaded guilty on February 22, 2013.

In his plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on October 23, 2012, he possessed the loaded gun while walking in Minneapolis with three friends at approximately 4:10 p.m. Johnson also admitted he knew the pistol, which was tucked into his waist band, was stolen. When the four friends saw a police squad, one of them ran. When officers asked the remaining three to raise their hands into the air, Johnson admitted he didn’t raise his hands all the way in an attempt to hide the gun. In addition, Johnson admitted disobeying the officers when ordered to lie on the ground. The gun fell out of Johnson’s waist band following a struggle.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber M. Brennan and LeeAnn K. Bell.