Fridley Felon Indicted For Possessing Ammunition

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 22-year-old felon from Fridley was indicted for possessing 9-millimeter ammunition. Raphael Eric Matthews was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

The indictment alleges that on January 31, 2013, Matthews possessed the ammunition. Matthews was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation, and the ammunition was found on his person. Because he is a felon, Matthews is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Matthews’s prior Hennepin County convictions include aggravated robbery (2007) and simple robbery (2012).

If convicted, Matthews faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Surya Saxena.

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.