MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A 21-year-old member of the notorious Minneapolis Lows gang is headed to federal prison after a raid uncovered a fully automatic weapon and an untraceable ‘ghost gun’ in his Brooklyn Center home. Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed was sentenced yesterday to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun.
The case began unraveling in April 2023 when federal and local law enforcement initiated an investigation into the activities of the Minneapolis Lows, a street gang known for its involvement in drug trafficking, firearms violations, and violent crime. Investigators zeroed in on Hill-Turnipseed, and on June 29, 2023, executed a search warrant at his residence.
Inside, authorities discovered a loaded .45 Glock semi-automatic pistol fitted with an illegal auto-sear – commonly referred to as a ‘switch’ – converting it into a fully automatic machine gun. The discovery immediately flagged the case as a serious federal offense. Adding to the illegal arsenal, officers also seized a loaded “ghost gun,” a privately assembled firearm without serial numbers, making it untraceable.
Hill-Turnipseed, facing mounting evidence, entered a guilty plea on October 4, 2023, to the single count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery handed down the 24-month sentence, sending a clear message that illegal firearm modifications and gang activity will not be tolerated.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez led the prosecution, securing the conviction and subsequent sentence. The case highlights the ongoing battle against gang violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms in Minneapolis, and the dedication of multiple agencies to dismantle criminal networks operating within the city. The ATF St. Paul Field Division spearheaded the firearms aspect of the investigation.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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