MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Lamonte Edjuan Brown, 39, is headed to federal prison for over seven years after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a stolen firearm and brandishing it at two victims in Minneapolis last August. Brown received a 92-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, handed down today by Senior Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court.
The incident unfolded August 29, 2022, when Brown allegedly pointed a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol at two individuals outside an apartment complex. Minneapolis Police Department officers responding to the scene quickly identified Brown, who immediately bolted, initiating a foot chase. Officers apprehended him, recovering the weapon from his sweatshirt pocket.
The gun wasn’t just in Brown’s possession illegally; it was stolen. The Eagan Police Department had previously reported the Smith & Wesson missing. Brown, already a convicted felon, was prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms. His guilty plea on January 11, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon sealed his fate.
During sentencing, Judge Nelson didn’t mince words, stating that “the trauma in this case is palpable.” She went on to emphasize the grim reality facing the city, acknowledging “our community is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence.” The sentence reflects a clear message: illegally possessing firearms, especially stolen ones, carries severe consequences.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor, successfully argued for the lengthy sentence, highlighting the danger Brown posed to the public.
This case is another stark reminder of the proliferation of illegal firearms on Minneapolis streets. While the city grapples with soaring violent crime rates, federal and local law enforcement are working to stem the flow of stolen guns and hold accountable those who put the community at risk. Brown’s seven-plus year sentence serves as a warning – and a small measure of justice – in a city desperately seeking both.
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