ONAMIA, MN – Justin Lyle Cutbank, 37, of Onamia, Minnesota, will spend the next 292 months – more than 24 years – in federal prison after being sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence, handed down yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis, stems from a November 2020 incident involving a brutal domestic assault and subsequent standoff with law enforcement.
The trouble began when Leech Lake Tribal Police responded to a call reporting that Cutbank had physically attacked a woman, then escalated the situation by holding her at gunpoint and threatening to kill her. Cutbank fled the scene into nearby woods, leaving the victim traumatized and fearing for her life. Officers quickly arrived and secured the victim’s statement, but the search for Cutbank continued.
A neighbor soon reported that Cutbank was holed up in their garage, refusing to cooperate with authorities. A multi-agency response ensued, with officers from the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office converging on the location. Cutbank barricaded himself in the garage attic, triggering hours of tense negotiations. He ultimately resisted arrest when officers finally apprehended him.
A search of the wooded area where Cutbank initially fled yielded damning evidence: a Marlin Model 100 .22 caliber rifle with the serial number intentionally removed, a knife, and the victim’s stolen cell phone. The discovery sealed Cutbank’s fate, as he is a convicted felon prohibited by federal law from owning firearms or ammunition. His prior criminal history made this latest offense a serious federal crime.
On March 17, 2023, a federal jury found Cutbank guilty on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the sentencing, highlighting the commitment of federal agencies to prosecute individuals who endanger public safety through illegal firearm possession. In addition to the 24-year prison term, Cutbank will also serve five years of supervised release upon his eventual release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with assistance from the aforementioned state and tribal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Ruth S. Shnider prosecuted the case, ensuring that Cutbank faced the full weight of the law for his actions. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime and illegal gun possession in Minnesota.
Related Federal Cases
- Justin Cutbank, Illegal Firearm Possession, Minnesota 2023 · Minnesota
- Travon Blackman, Illegal Firearm Possession, Minnesota 2023 · Minnesota
- 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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