ONAMIA, MN – A northern Minnesota man with a history of violence is facing federal time after a jury convicted him of illegally possessing a firearm. Justin Lyle Cutbank, 36, of Onamia, was found guilty on one count of possessing a firearm as a felon following a four-day trial in Minneapolis before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The case stems from a November 19, 2020, incident where Leech Lake Tribal Police responded to a domestic assault call. The victim reported that Cutbank physically assaulted her, then held her at gunpoint, threatening to kill her before fleeing into the nearby woods. The situation quickly escalated, demonstrating a clear pattern of volatile behavior.
Officers arrived to find Cutbank barricaded in a neighbor’s garage, refusing to comply with commands. A prolonged standoff ensued, with Cutbank retreating into the attic and continuing to resist arrest even after being apprehended. The scene required a multi-agency response, highlighting the danger posed by the suspect.
A subsequent search of the wooded area where Cutbank fled yielded a disturbing discovery: a Marlin Model 100 .22 caliber rifle with its serial number intentionally removed, a knife, and the victim’s stolen cell phone. The weapon’s altered serial number suggests a deliberate attempt to evade law enforcement and conceal its origin.
Federal prosecutors successfully argued that Cutbank’s multiple prior felony convictions permanently disqualify him from owning firearms or ammunition. This conviction adds another layer of accountability for a man already entangled in the criminal justice system. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Ruth S. Shnider handled the prosecution.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. This case underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling violent crime and keeping illegal weapons off the streets.
Related Federal Cases
- Justin Cutbank, Illegal Firearm Possession, Minnesota 2024 · Minnesota
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- Tavaris Dixon, Illegal Firearm Possession, Minnesota 2023 · Minnesota
- Miklos Terrel DATES Jr., Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Minnesota · Minnesota
- Lewis Edward Byrd III, Illegal Firearm Possession, MN 2022 · Illinois
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