Minneapolis Man Charged With Illegally Possessing A Firearm

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a criminal complaint charging DESHAWN TYRONE BRAZIEL, 35, with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. A preliminary and detention hearing on this charge is scheduled for August 10, before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright, in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and affidavit, on May 21, 2020, law enforcement received information that BRAZIEL was seen at a store that has an upper apartment unit accessible from the inside of the store. BRAZIEL had two outstanding warrants for his arrest and was a suspect in a shooting that occurred in Minneapolis on April 16, 2020. Law enforcement officers conducting physical surveillance observed BRAZIEL exit the property and enter the driver's side of a BMW that was parked nearby. Law enforcement officers approached BRAZIEL and placed him under arrest. At the time of his arrest, BRAZIEL was wearing a backpack. Law enforcement located a loaded, Springfield XD 9mm pistol, 94 ecstasy pills, BRAZIEL’s credit card, and other items including a digital scale in the backpack. Because BRAZIEL has prior felony convictions, including a previous conviction for a drive-by shooting in 2006, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

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

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.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Ethen is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

DESHAWN TYRONE BRAZIEL, 35

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

• Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count