MINNEAPOLIS- Earlier today in federal court, a 27-year-old St. Paul man pleaded guilty to carrying a.357-caliber revolver during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Leroy Uriah Spivey, who was indicted on April 15, 2013, entered his plea before Chief United States District Judge Michael J. Davis.
In his plea agreement, Spivey admitted that on December 8, 2012, he got out of a taxi near an ongoing police investigation at a residence on George Street West in St. Paul, Minnesota. Spivey tried to walk away from investigating police officers while he admittedly tried to pull the.357 revolver from his waistband. Spivey then slid the firearm beneath a nearby car when finally complied with the officers’ command to stop and get down on the ground. Police recovered the weapon and found a large bag containing approximately 40 grams of marijuana on Spivey’s person. Spivey admittedly intended to distribute the bag of marijuana, which included 27 smaller bags of distribution amounts of marijuana. In his plea agreement, Spivey admitted that he possessed the firearm for security and protection during his drug distribution efforts.
For his crime, Spivey faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum penalty of five years. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
