Department of Justice

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of HURIAH KAREEM BLEDSOE, 40, to 120 months in prison for illegally possessing five firearms and quantities of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. BLEDSOE, who pleaded guilty on October 15, 2019, was sentenced today before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald said, "Mr. Bledsoe, a convicted felon with an extremely violent criminal history, was in possession of multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a variety of dangerous drugs – all in the presence of young children. His actions showed no regard for the safety of those children or the broader community."

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on January 2, 2019, and January 6, 2019, law enforcement received complaints from two separate callers stating that BLEDSOE was staying at the Extended Stay Hotel in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and he had guns in the hotel room. The callers also stated that there were minors in the hotel room.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, law enforcement obtained search warrants for BLEDSOE’s hotel room and on January 17, 2019, law enforcement executed the warrants and seized five firearms, namely, a North American Arms, model NAA-.22LR, .22LR caliber revolver, a Stoeger, model M3500, 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun, a Ruger, model SR40, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, an Imperial Metal Products, model 8, .22 caliber revolver, and a Ceska Zbrojsvka, model 50, 7.65 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Law enforcement also seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, several high-capacity gun magazines, body armor, a digital scale, $2,320 in cash, and quantities of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brooklyn Center 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.

Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A. Polachek and Thomas M. Hollenhorst prosecuted the case.

Defendant Information:
HURIAH KAREEM BLEDSOE, 40
Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Convicted:
• Possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, 1 count
• Felon in possession of firearms, 1 count

Sentenced:
• 120 months in prison
• Three years of supervised release

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