Lewis Edward Byrd III, Illegal Firearm Possession by a Convicted Felon, Minnesota 2022

Coon Rapids felon Lewis Edward Byrd III, 45, is behind bars and facing federal charges after a traffic stop uncovered a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun stashed in a pillowcase behind the driver’s seat of his vehicle. The discovery, made on December 29, 2022, triggered a criminal complaint charging Byrd with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a violation of federal law.

According to court records, Coon Rapids Police pulled over Byrd for violations tied to his status as a registered predatory offender. During the stop, officers placed him under arrest and conducted a search of the car. That’s when they found the 9mm handgun hidden behind the driver’s seat, wrapped in a pillowcase. The weapon was later traced to a private sale completed earlier in December 2022.

Investigators quickly followed up with the private seller, who confirmed the transaction and told law enforcement that Byrd explicitly stated he was not a felon at the time of purchase. That statement, if proven false, could expose Byrd to additional charges for lying during a firearm acquisition — a felony under federal law.

Byrd’s criminal history is extensive and violent. He has prior convictions for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking, and false imprisonment — all felonies that strip him of the right to possess firearms or ammunition under federal statute. Despite that, he allegedly obtained and carried a loaded handgun for weeks, putting the public at risk.

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Coon Rapids Police Department. On January 26, 2023, Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty ordered Byrd to remain in federal custody without bond, citing both his criminal record and the danger he may pose if released.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Middlecamp is prosecuting the case. Byrd faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. A criminal complaint is not a conviction — the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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