Felon Indicted for Possessing Firearms, Ammunition

MINNEAPOLIS — Recently in federal court, a 30–year–old felon was indicted for possessing a nine–millimeter pistol and a .22–caliber rifle. On June 5, 2012, Richard Handsome Carter was charged with three counts of being a felon in possession. Carter was apprehended yesterday and had his initial appearance earlier today.

The indictment alleges that on April 12, 2012, Carter possessed the semi–automatic pistol and semi–automatic rifle, as well as 42 rounds of nine–millimeter ammunition. In addition, the pistol contained eight rounds of ammunition. Because he is a felon, Carter is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time. His prior Dakota County convictions include terroristic threats (2002), second–degree assault with a deadly weapon (2003), and domestic assault by strangulation (2008).

Since those offenses constitute crimes of violence, sentencing in the current federal case, if Carter is found guilty, will be subject to the federal Armed Career Criminal Act. That act mandates a minimum of 15 years in prison for anyone convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm if that person has at least three prior state or federal convictions for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the St. Paul Police Department; and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Bryan.

Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun crime in America. PSN, launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001, encourages cooperative, multi–jurisdictional law enforcement and crime prevention efforts.