Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 98 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of RICHARD ALONZO WOODS, 36, to 98 months in prison for illegally possessing two firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release. WOODS, who pleaded guilty on May 9, 2019, was sentenced today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. On August 1, 2019, WOODS’s co-defendant, DAMON TYRELL LEE ACON, 23, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegal possession of firearms.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, on May 18, 2018, WOODS and ACON knowingly possessed two firearms, namely, a Magnum Research, Desert Eagle 9mm pistol, and a Cobra CA380, .380 caliber pistol. Because WOODS and ACON have prior felony convictions, they are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms at any time.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime. This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, W. Anders Folk, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Surya Saxena.
Defendant Information:
RICHARD ALONZO WOODS, 36 Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 98 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
DAMON TYRELL LEE ACON, 23, St. Paul, Minn.
Convicted:
- Felon in possession of a firearm, 1 count
Sentenced:
- 60 months in prison
- Three years of supervised release
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: 612-664-5600