KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after he distributed a video of himself holding a gun to the head of a blindfolded man.
Sean A. Winston, 41, of Kansas City, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.
Today’s indictment alleges that Winston was in possession of a Rossi.38-caliber revolver and a Springfield Armory.40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on April 10, 2018. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Winston on April 11, 2018.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, an individual contacted law enforcement on April 8, 2018, to report that Winston sent him a video, via text message, in which Winston was holding a handgun to the head of a blindfolded man. Police officers contacted family members, who said they also had received the video. The video showed an unidentified man, who was blindfolded and was sitting on a couch with his hands in the air in a surrendering posture. In the video, the affidavit says, Winston said the blindfolded man should be dead. The blindfolded man replied with “I love you, Sean. I love you, Sean." According to the affidavit, Winston appeared to be angry and agitated in the video.
Winston’s family members said the blindfolded man appeared to be one of Winston’s associates, who was later identified and located. The man acknowledged that he was in the video, but he did not want to want to cooperate with the prosecution.
On April 10, 2018, police officers arrested Winston and searched his residence, where they found both of the firearms.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Winston has prior federal felony convictions for distributing a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Moeder. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
