DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Colorado

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 2, 2015
John F. Walsh
, United States Attorney
Contact: Jeff Dorschner

Denver Gang Member Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

DENVER – Ronald Odean Bryant, age 22, of Denver, Colorado, has been indicted on May 20, 2015 by a federal grand jury in Denver on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney John Walsh  and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey announced.  Prior to the indictment, Bryant was charged by Criminal Complaint on May 15, 2015.  On May 29, 2015 the court ordered that both the original Complaint and the formal charging document, the indictment, be unsealed.  The defendant is currently in state custody on unrelated charges.  No date has yet been set for when Bryant will be brought to federal court for his initial appearance. 

According to court documents, including the original affidavit in support of the Criminal Complaint, on May 11, 2015, at approximately 11:30 p.m. uniformed officers in a marked Denver Police Department patrol vehicle noticed a gold in color Range Rover, with severe damage, including a heavily damaged windshield, damage to the headlight/bumper area, with the turn signals not appearing to work.  The break light on the driver’s side was not functioning either.  The car was pulled over by the Denver Police patrol vehicle near the intersection of East Bruce Randolph and North York Street.

When the officers approached the car they observed a female driver, a male sitting in the front passenger seat, and two females in the back seat.  Each individual provided their identification information.  When the officers checked the information, they determined that one of the females, and the male, now identified as Bryant, provided false information.  As officers approached the vehicle to discuss the false information the car started to move forward as if it was about to flee.  The driver stopped the car after being ordered by an officer to stop.  Bryant was then observed to have his hands in his lap, concealed by a leather jacket.  He was asked to step out of the car.  When he complied, he dropped a plastic baggie of what appeared to be narcotics.  It was later determined that the baggie contained methamphetamine.

As Bryant was about to be frisked he fled on foot.  Officers gave chase, but did not immediately capture him.  The Denver Police Department established a perimeter, and summoned a Police K-9 to the scene.  Once the K-9 arrived and the area within the perimeter was searched, Bryant was apprehended without incident.  When searched subsequent to arrest a round of ammunition was found in Bryant’s pocket.  An inventory search of the vehicle Bryant was in revealed a Ruger .22 caliber pistol loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition.  This firearm was located under the rear seat.  A small revolver was also located, loaded with one round, in a beer box in the vehicle.  Additional investigation determined that one of the females in the vehicle had purchased the Ruger pistol for Bryant several days earlier.

On May 14, 2015, agents and officers reviewed Bryant’s criminal history.  Anyone with a felony criminal conviction is prohibited by both federal and state law of possessing a firearm or ammunition.  Bryant has been identified as a CMG Blood.  He has a prior conviction in Denver District Court for possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.  Bryant is currently on probation in that case.

Bryant has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearm or ammunition, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  If convicted, the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine on each of the two total counts. 

“This case is an example of the close partnership between the Department of Justice, the ATF and the Denver Police Department to combat gun violence on our streets,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “Working together with all levels of law enforcement and the community itself, we are making significant progress in those efforts, and will continue to move forward effectively.”

“ATF and our partners will continue to pursue felons who possess firearms and endanger members of the community,” said ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Luke Franey.

Denver Police Chief Robert White said:  “The significant arrest of an individual like Ronald Bryant goes a long way toward making our community safer and addressing violent crime.  With zero tolerance for violent crime and a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community, we can make communities safer and Denver a better place to live.”

This case was investigated by Denver Police Department and the ATF, as part of Project Safe Neighborhood, an initiative which includes the Denver, Aurora and Lakewood Police Departments working in concert with the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Denver Field Division