Lorenzo Miner, Unlawful Possession of Firearm, Wisconsin 2022

A Stevens Point man has been sent to prison for six years after being found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, a serious crime that puts the public at risk. Lorenzo Miner, 30, was arrested in January 2022 after the Stevens Point Police Department observed him leaving a hotel and walking to a car, carrying an AR15 rifle partially concealed under a bathrobe.

According to police reports, Miner had previously been convicted of a felony and therefore was not allowed to possess a firearm. Despite this, he was found carrying an unloaded AR15 in the backseat of his vehicle. The defendant denied having a gun when initially approached by police, and refused to comply with the officer’s commands, leading to a physical struggle.

The defendant had a significant criminal history, with felony convictions for burglary, bail jumping, and drug trafficking. At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson acknowledged both the aggravating facts of this case and the defendant’s significant criminal history, concluding that a long period of imprisonment was necessary to protect the public.

The charge against Miner was the result of an investigation conducted by the Stevens Point Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan handled the prosecution of the case, which has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.

Project Safe Neighborhoods emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

The case against Miner is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun crime and the importance of enforcing federal laws to keep our communities safe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who engage in violent and dangerous behavior.

In a statement, Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, said that the sentence handed down to Miner is a reflection of the seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the public.

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