Cortez Ward, Illegal Possession of Firearms, Minnesota 2022

Cortez Ward, a Maple Grove man, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms. According to a recent investigation, the brothers were involved in a string of crimes that led to their downfall.

In January 2022, Cortez and his brother Quantez Ward were charged in Hennepin County District Court for possession of machineguns. The brothers had modified their semi-automatic firearms with auto sears, a device that converts a gun into a fully automatic firearm. This is considered a machinegun under federal law.

However, their actions did not go unnoticed. On May 6, 2022, the Maple Grove Police pulled over the brothers during a traffic stop. Cortez was found in possession of an unserialized Polymer 80 pistol with a large-capacity magazine loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition. Quantez had an AK-style gun in a backpack in the car.

The investigation continued as law enforcement executed a federal arrest warrant at the Ward brothers’ residence on July 19, 2022. Inside, they found multiple firearms, including a 9mm Ruger rifle, a H&K MP5 rifle, and a Polymer 80 pistol with a switch.

Quantez Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms as a felon related to several of the firearms recovered on July 19, 2022. He was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. Cortez Ward will be sentenced at a later date.

The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Maple Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.

As the community continues to grapple with the consequences of crime, one thing is clear: the rule of law must be upheld. The actions of Cortez and Quantez Ward are a stark reminder of the dangers of illegal firearms and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to keep our communities safe.

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