Dante Tyus Guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm

A federal jury in Minnesota has found Dante Jospeh Tyus, 30, a member of the Minneapolis Bloods street gang, guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon.

U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the verdict, which came after a four-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan Richard Nelson.

According to evidence presented at trial, on September 28, 2019, Tyus was stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol for driving erratically in the early morning hours. Tyus, who showed obvious signs of intoxication, was arrested for driving under the influence.

After being booked at the Hennepin County Jail, Tyus made a series of recorded calls expressing concern to his girlfriend and enlisting her assistance in recovering a firearm that was hidden inside his vehicle. Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and recovered a 9mm semiautomatic handgun hidden inside a door panel.

As a result of his prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, Tyus is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Baumel and Allen A. Slaughter tried the case.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date to determine Tyus’s punishment for this crime.