St. Paul Felon Sentenced for Possessing a 12–Gauge Shotgun
MINNEAPOLIS — Earlier today in federal court, a 25–year–old felon from St. Paul was sentenced for possessing an unregistered 12–gauge shotgun. United States District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced Michael Romeo Geraci to 120 months in prison on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Geraci was indicted on May 22, 2012, and pleaded guilty on September 6, 2012.
In the plea agreement, Geraci admitted that on April 10, 2012, he possessed a sawed–off shotgun, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Geraci had the shotgun in his possession while driving a stolen minivan in the parking lot of the Uni/Dale Mall in St. Paul, where he was ultimately arrested. Geraci further admitted that he had the firearm because he intended to use it in connection with another felony offense, namely aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
Because he is a felon, Geraci is prohibited under federal law from possessing any type of firearm at any time. His prior Ramsey County convictions include fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle (2007) and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon (2009).
This case was the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Surya Saxena and LeeAnn K. Bell.
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