Winona Man Charged With Illegally Possessing A Firearm

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging DAMARLO MARCELLE WEST, 27, with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. WEST made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on July 14, 2020, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) identified WEST as one of two individuals that had committed an armed carjacking on July 9, 2020. As MPD officers were conducting surveillance, they observed WEST walking into a restaurant in Minneapolis. When officers entered the restaurant to make an arrest, WEST, initially, failed to comply and began reaching into his waistband area, apparently trying to retrieve something. Officers struggled with WEST as they tried to remove his hand from a gun in his waistband. After WEST was taken into custody, officers recovered a loaded Sturm/Ruger, Model 9E, 9mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol from WEST’s waistband. Because WEST has a prior felony conviction in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was brought as part of the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, a multi-agency effort that brings together additional federal and state resources to assist local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals responsible for gun violence in the Twin Cities. For more information about the Twin Cities Violent Crime Task Force, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/united-states-attorney-announces-new-twin-cities-violent-crime-task-force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Defendant Information:

DAMARLO MARCELLE WEST, 27

Winona, Minn.

Charges:

• Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count