Lewis Edward Byrd III, Federal Gun Possession, Minnesota 2022

State: Minnesota
Agency: DOJ USAO
Category: Weapons
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/coon-rapids-felon-charged-illegal-possession-firearm" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Official Source ↗

Coon Rapids man Lewis Edward Byrd III, 45, is behind bars and facing federal charges for illegally possessing a firearm — a loaded 9mm handgun found stashed in a pillowcase in his vehicle just days after he bought it from a private seller.

On December 29, 2022, Coon Rapids Police pulled over Byrd for traffic violations and quickly discovered he was in violation of his status as a registered predatory offender. That routine stop turned criminal when officers searched the car and uncovered the Smith and Wesson 9mm behind the driver’s seat, according to court documents.

Byrd, a convicted felon with a history that includes first-degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking, and false imprisonment, is banned under federal law from owning or possessing any firearm or ammunition. Despite that, investigators say he purchased the weapon earlier in December and falsely told the seller he was not a felon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the Coon Rapids Police Department in the investigation, confirming the chain of sale and Byrd’s prohibited status. Evidence shows Byrd took deliberate steps to conceal the firearm — stuffing it inside a pillowcase as though anticipating a search.

Charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon, Byrd appeared before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty, who ordered him held without bond on January 26, 2023. The decision reflects the severity of his criminal past and the danger he poses, prosecutors argue.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Middlecamp is handling the prosecution. The case is ongoing. A criminal complaint is not a conviction — Byrd is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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