Aurora Man Found Guilty of Gun and Drug Charges Following Jury Trial

DENVER – Michael Eugene Simpson, age 35, of Aurora, Colorado, was found guilty yesterday of gun and drug charges, following a three day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer, United States Attorney John Walsh and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey announced.  The jury deliberated for approximately five hours before reaching their verdicts.

Simpson was charged by Criminal Complaint on June 20, 2014.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 30, 2014.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office obtained a Superseding Indictment on January 7, 2015.  The jury trial began on April 6, 2015, with a verdict being rendered on April 9, 2015.  The jury found the defendant guilty of one count possession with intent to distribute cocaine (with a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison, and up to a $1,000,000 fine per count); three counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person (with a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine per count), one count of possession of an unregistered firearm (with a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine), and eight counts of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person (with a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine per count).

According to facts that came out trial, on June 19, 2014, at approximately 3:00 a.m., law enforcement special agents and officers executed a search warrant in Aurora, Colorado.  The address was the residence of Michael Simpson.  Aurora Police Department and ATF had previously received information that Simpson, a convicted felon, was in possession of numerous firearms and was participating in drug activity.  That morning, upon approaching the residence, law enforcement officials found Simpson in a vehicle in the driveway. He did not comply with commands and instead turned the vehicle on and tried to flee. He attempted to back out the driveway but could not because a law enforcement vehicle was parked directly behind him. He proceeded to back up into the vehicle several times until law enforcement officers broke the driver side window and tased him.

Agents and officers then conducted a lawful search of the residence, law enforcement officers found:  (1) a loaded .40 Smith and Wesson firearm in a vehicle outside the house; (2) a loaded, Cobray 12 gauge Streetsweeper shotgun in the garage; (3) a loaded, .380 Bersa handgun in a safe from a downstairs closet; and, (4) 19.9 grams of cocaine in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter.  In the same safe where the .380 Bersa handgun was found, law enforcement officers found over 100 rounds of ammunition, a digital scale, a beaker, and plastic bags used to distribute cocaine.  Law enforcement officers found ammunition in two kitchen cabinets, on top of the refrigerator, and on a desk downstairs.  A razor blade, digital scale, and plastic bags were also found in a kitchen cabinet.

Simpson, a member of the 83 Gangster Crips, has previous drug-related felony convictions.  His felony convictions prohibit him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Aurora Police Department.

The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason St. Julien and Robert Brown.