Former Minneapolis Firefighter Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute More Than Five Kilograms of Cocaine

MINNEAPOLIS—Today in federal court, Brandon Josiha Granger, a former Minneapolis firefighter, was sentenced for conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. United States District Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced Granger, age 35, to 87 months in prison on one count of conspiracy. In addition to his prison term, Granger was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

In his plea agreement, Granger admitted that from October of 2009 through October 12, 2011, he conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. He specifically admitted that during the course of the conspiracy, he trafficked between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.

Two Men Indicted for Robbing Several Twin Cities-Area Banks

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, two men were indicted in connection to several bank robberies that occurred last month in the northern Twin Cities metro area. The indictment charges William Wellington Williams, age 28, no known address, with three counts of bank robbery; and Kevin Eugene Davis, age 33, also no known address, with two counts of bank robbery.

The indictment alleges that on April 16, 2012, Williams stole approximately $2,484 from the TCF Bank branch located at 4165 West Broadway Avenue in Robbinsdale. It also alleges that on April 20, 2012, the defendants stole approximately $1,747 from the TCF Bank branch located at 7555 West Broadway Avenue in Brooklyn Park, and that on April 26, 2012, the defendants attempted to take money from the TCF Bank branch located at 3245 County Road 10 in Brooklyn Center.

According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, police began investigating Williams in connection to the April 20 robbery because he was positively identified in surveillance photos. On April 26, Williams was observed driving a vehicle with another man, later identified as Davis. They made several stops, including the Cub Foods store in which the TCF Bank is located. Davis went inside, bought an item, and left the store. Then, the men went to a nearby fast-food restaurant, and police observed Williams putting on a hooded jacket and baseball cap. The two later returned to the bank. Williams entered the bank, pulled out a bag, and displayed a demand note to the teller which read, “Put the money in bag now...or die.” The teller complied and gave Williams the cash. While Williams reached for additional cash, agents entered the bank and arrested him without incident. Davis, who was waiting in the vehicle, was also arrested without incident.

If convicted, the defendants face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Brooklyn Park Police Department, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin S. Ueland.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Robbery of TCF Bank Branch

On April 26, 2012, at approximately 10:45 a.m., special agents from the FBI, along with local officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Task Force and the Brooklyn Center Police Department, arrested William Wellington Williams, date of birth September 13, 1983, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Williams was arrested near a Cub Foods located at 3245 County Road 10 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Law enforcement officers stopped Williams from robbing the TCF Bank branch that is located within the store. Williams was arrested inside the TCF Bank and was taken into custody without incident.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald Oswald stated that “the foiled robbery was the result of excellent cooperation and tenacious investigative work by all law enforcement personnel involved.” Sheriff Richard Stanek commented that the arrest was the result of “an outstanding example of how the FBI and local agencies work in collaboration on behalf of public safety.”

The FBI and local authorities are looking into other, unsolved bank robberies for which Williams may be responsible. The investigation into Williams will continue with respect to these unsolved robberies.

FBI Announces the Arrest of Fugitive Dion Darnell Toney

Donald E. Oswald, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis FBI office, today announces the arrest of fugitive Dion Darnell Toney, 24, of Bloomington, Minnesota. Toney was wanted on an outstanding Hennepin County arrest warrant signed on April 23, 2010, for one count of a felony assault in the first degree, and one count of a felony drive-by shooting. The FBI also obtained a federal arrest warrant on March 15, 2011, for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

In the early morning hours of April 3, 2010, a shooting took place in the area of 10th Street and Portland Avenue South in Minneapolis. The victim in the shooting had been in a black SUV and was allegedly shot by Toney, who was a passenger in another vehicle. The shooting allegedly stemmed from a dispute between Toney and the victim over a woman. The victim was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with serious injuries.

Information was developed that Toney fled Minnesota to avoid facing the Hennepin County charges. The FBI’s Minnesota Fugitive Task Force began searching for Toney in early 2011. Toney was featured on Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards throughout the Twin Cities in early 2011. Several citizens notified the FBI that Toney had fled to Detroit, Michigan. Recently, the Minnesota Fugitive Task Force and the Minneapolis Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension team developed information that Toney was staying at a hotel in Detroit. Based upon that information, the Detroit FBI Safe Street Task Force initiated surveillance at the hotel. This morning, Toney was seen leaving the hotel driving a vehicle with Minnesota license plates. He was placed under arrest by the task force without incident. Toney is being held at the Wayne County, Michigan jail while awaiting extradition to Minnesota on the charges filed in the Hennepin County criminal complaint on April 23, 2010.

The Minnesota Fugitive Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.

Florida Fugitive Wanted for Murder Arrested in Minnesota

Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, today announces the arrest of Abraham Mpaka, 46, of North Miami Beach, Florida. Mbaka has been a fugitive from justice following his alleged murder of his girlfriend, Coty Paul, in North Miami Beach on December 26, 2008. Mbaka is alleged to have stabbed Paul, the mother of two children, in the heart as she was watching television in her neighbor’s apartment. Mbaka is also a suspect in a Miami area bank robbery that occurred on December 10, 2008.

Mpaka, who is originally from Nigeria, has been featured on the television show America’s Most Wanted three times since Paul’s murder. His story is also expected to be featured on tonight’s episode of the program. Mpaka has claimed in the past to be a doctor, an FBI agent, and a student at the Universite de Paris.

Following up on investigative leads, the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force in Minneapolis and Hastings (Minnesota) Police Department officers, located Mpaka at a library in Hastings about 4:30 this afternoon. He was taken into custody without incident. He will be held at the Dakota County Jail in Hastings while awaiting extradition proceedings to Florida.

The FBI’s Fugitive Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.