Duluth Felon Indicted For Possessing Two Firearms

MINNEAPOLIS—Recently in federal court, a 36-year-old Duluth felon was indicted for possessing a nine-millimeter pistol and a .357-caliber revolver. On April 22, 2013, Ronald Paris Riles was specifically charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment alleges that on February 6, 2013, Riles possessed the two firearms. Because he is a felon, Riles is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm at any time. He was previously convicted in Illinois for first-degree murder (1993) as well as manufacturing and delivering cannabis (2007).

If convicted of the federal charge now levied against him, Riles faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Duluth Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.

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.