Cass Lake Man Convicted by a Federal Jury for Possession of a Machine Gun

Minneapolis   -   A man from Cass Lake, Minnesota, was convicted in federal court on Wednesday of possession of a machine gun.  After a trial before U.S. District Court Judge David Doty, a jury found Gregory Smith, age 24, guilty of two federal charges, including  possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered firearm.

According to the evidence presented at trial, a conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was on routine patrol near the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in September of 2005 when heard gunshots and noticed a car on the side of the road.  The officer confronted the occupants of the vehicle.  Those occupants, identified as Smith and his brothers, admitted shooting at deer from inside the vehicle.  The officer searched the vehicle and found a Sten Mark 1 nine-millimeter machine gun hidden under some clothing on the floor of the back seat.

Smith’s brother, Timothy Goodman, was convicted in June of 2006 of possession of a machine gun relative to the same incident.  He awaits sentencing.

Smith faces a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each charge against him.  The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Doty.  A sentencing date has not yet been set.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office; the Beltrami

County Sheriff’s Office; the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office; the Leech Lake Police Department; the Leech Lake Conservation Department; and the White Earth Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw prosecuted the case.

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