A local man has been handed a lengthy prison sentence for violating federal laws related to firearm possession.
Wendell Terrell Brown, a 37-year-old St. Paul felon, was sentenced to 180 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.
The 180-month sentence is the result of Brown’s guilty plea, which he entered on October 12, 2012. In his plea agreement, Brown admitted to possessing a .40-caliber pistol on May 5, 2012, while riding as a passenger in a vehicle stopped by authorities in St. Paul.
As a convicted felon, Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm at any time under federal law. His prior convictions include possession of a short-barreled shotgun in Ramsey County in 1998, felon in possession of a firearm in Ramsey County in 2002, and terroristic threats in Hennepin County in 1998, among others.
According to the Armed Career Criminal Act, since at least three of Brown’s past felony convictions were for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes, his sentence was subject to a minimum of 15 years in federal prison. However, due to the absence of parole in the federal criminal system, Brown will serve virtually his entire 180-month prison sentence behind bars.
The case was the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.
Wendell Terrell Brown’s lengthy prison sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violating federal laws related to firearm possession. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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