Minneapolis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Machineguns

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing machineguns, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, on February 8, 2023, law enforcement observed a silver Mazda CX9 commit multiple traffic violations and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, abruptly stopped to allow three occupants to flee on foot, and then drove away. Antanie Syre Alonzo Johnson, 21, was one of the individuals that fled on foot. Law enforcement quickly located Johnson running through an adjacent parking lot. He ultimately surrendered and informed officers that he was armed. Law enforcement subsequently recovered two firearms, a stolen 9 mm Glock and a 9 mm "ghost gun" or a "privately made firearm" (PMF). Both weapons were fully loaded with extended magazines and equipped with "switches" that allowed the firearms to be fired as fully automatic weapons with the single pull of the trigger.

On November 8, 2023-after obtaining presentence release-law enforcement observed Johnson engaging in what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug transactions. The officers attempted to engage Johnson, who fled on foot through a covered parking garage. A witness in the parking garage indicated Johnson had dropped something while he ran. Law enforcement recovered a loaded 9 mm Glock equipped with a "switch." In a subsequent search of Johnson's backpack, agents also discovered 100 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and cash.

On April 25, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to his unlawful possession of machineguns on both occasions. U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced Johnson yesterday to a guidelines sentence and specifically admonished him for squandering the rare opportunity that presentence release had provided.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.