Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Robbinsdale man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, to be served consecutively to a prior sentence of 70 months for illegal possession of a firearm, followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, on December 15, 2021, Travon Lavelle Blackman, 26, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, for a felon in possession conviction. Blackman failed to surrender himself to begin his sentence, and a federal warrant for his arrest was issued by the Court.

According to court documents, on April 5, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at a Robbinsdale apartment associated with Blackman and arrested him on the federal arrest warrant. During the search of the apartment, investigators discovered a Glock, model 21 Gen 4, .45-caliber pistol, with an attached high-capacity magazine, loaded with 18 rounds, on the floor of the bedroom closet. The firearm had an attached auto-sear or “switch,” enabling the firearm to fire as a fully automatic weapon, and the slide lock appeared to be glued into place. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Eden Prairie in May 2019. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on the firearm. Because Blackman has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time.

On August 29, 2022, Blackman pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Blackman was sentenced February 24, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.