MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A brazen attempt to shake down a man over an Xbox video game landed 30-year-old Ramone Trayvil Johnson of Minneapolis in federal prison. Johnson was sentenced to 46 months, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident unfolded on June 18, 2023, when Minneapolis police responded to a ShotSpotter activation. The victim, identified only as “K.H.,” told officers that Johnson had attempted to rob him inside Johnson’s own vehicle. The dispute stemmed from a debt related to an Xbox console. When K.H. couldn’t immediately pay, Johnson allegedly brandished a handgun and pointed it at the victim.
K.H. managed to escape the vehicle and flee on foot, at which point Johnson opened fire, discharging the weapon in his direction. Fortunately, K.H. wasn’t hit. Johnson then fled the scene. Police recovered Johnson’s driver’s license and cell phones from inside the abandoned vehicle. Later that evening, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle carrying Johnson as a passenger. A search of the car revealed the Zastava semi-automatic pistol used in the attempted robbery.
Ballistic testing confirmed the gun was indeed the one used to shoot at K.H. Johnson’s prior felony convictions made his possession of the firearm a federal offense. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The case was built by a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Fridley Police Department.
The sentencing was handed down by Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp prosecuted the case, pushing for a significant penalty given the violent nature of the attempted robbery and Johnson’s repeated disregard for the law. The 46-month sentence reflects the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating illegal gun possession, particularly by those with prior convictions.
This case is another example of the revolving door of crime plaguing Minneapolis streets. While the victim escaped unharmed, the incident underscores the danger posed by individuals illegally armed and willing to use violence over petty disputes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to curb gun violence in the city.
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