Randall Dean Jones, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Minnesota 2018

A Ponemah man, Randall Dean Jones, 28, has been sentenced to 100 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun. According to court documents, Jones pleaded guilty on December 20, 2018, to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2018, when law enforcement officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in Thief River Falls following a report of a fight. Upon arrival, officers detained Jones, who was found with a shortened 20-gauge shotgun in the apartment hallway.

Jones admitted to possessing the unregistered, modified shotgun, which is a serious offense given his two prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault in Cass County, North Dakota and assault with a dangerous weapon in U.S. District Court in the District of Minnesota.

This case was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Thief River Falls Police Department, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Red Lake Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad prosecuted the case, securing a significant sentence for Jones.

Jones’ sentence includes 100 months in prison and three years of supervised release. This sentence serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar activities, and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, can be reached at (612) 664-5600 for further information.

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