Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing A .44-caliber Revolver

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 28-year-old felon from Minneapolis pleaded guilty to possessing a .44-caliber revolver. Eugene Denzel Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson, who was indicted on November 20, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery.

In his plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on September 5, 2012, he was riding in a vehicle that police attempted to stop following a traffic violation. Johnson admitted that he jumped out of the passenger side of the vehicle, with a gun tucked into his waistband, and ran. Officers spotted the gun when Johnson exited the vehicle and chased him. Johnson was apprehended nearby a short time later. Officers recovered the gun after they used a canine to trace the path Johnson had taken.

Because he is a felon, Johnson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms at any time. He was previously convicted in Hennepin County for first-degree aggravated robbery (2005 and 2010), in Ramsey County for theft of a motor vehicle (2003), and in Dakota County for criminal damage to property (2003).

For his crime, Johnson faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. Judge Montgomery will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. 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 Amber M. Brennan.

The case was charged under Project Exile Minneapolis. That law enforcement initiative was launched on July 22, 2010, as part of a city-wide effort to reduce gun violence. Through Project Exile, the Minneapolis Police Department and the ATF work together to apprehend serial criminals for violations of gun laws. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office then teams up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine where those offenders will most effectively be prosecuted – state or federal court. Those determinations are based on the offenders’ criminal histories and current charges, among other factors. To date, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has brought charges against almost two dozen serious habitual criminals through Project Exile Minneapolis.