MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Tracrill Smith, 26, is headed to federal prison for nine years and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to firearms and drug trafficking charges. The sentencing, handed down today by Senior Judge Michael J. Davis, closes a case that began with a masked man waving a handgun in a stolen vehicle.
On February 13, 2023, Maplewood Police and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of Smith, driving a white Kia with Colorado plates, brandishing a firearm. Officers ordered Smith out of the vehicle and quickly discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol with the serial number intentionally obliterated. But the gun wasn’t the only illegal cargo.
A search of the Kia also revealed a staggering amount of fentanyl: 3,340 pills and approximately 47.15 grams of fentanyl powder. The bust connected Smith directly to drug trafficking, adding a significant charge to the existing firearms violation. Smith, already a convicted felon, was legally prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary S. Riverso, successfully argued that Smith’s actions warranted a substantial prison term. The obliterated serial number on the handgun further compounded the severity of the offense, indicating an attempt to conceal the weapon’s origin and history – a tactic often employed by those involved in illicit activities.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, working alongside the Maplewood Police Department and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. The collaborative effort highlights the ongoing struggle to stem the flow of illegal firearms and deadly narcotics into Minneapolis and surrounding areas. The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division was instrumental in building the case against Smith.
The nine-year sentence sends a clear message: illegally possessing firearms while engaged in drug trafficking will be met with serious consequences. While one man is off the streets, the relentless flow of fentanyl and illegal guns continues to plague the nation, demanding unwavering attention from law enforcement and a commitment to dismantling these criminal networks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, led by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger, continues to prioritize these cases.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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