Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
Darneko Yates, a 30-year-old resident of Richmond, California, was found guilty of unlawful firearm possession after a bench trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. The conviction came after evidence showed that Yates hid a loaded, fully automatic handgun in his six-year-old nephew's pants during an encounter with police officers on August 27, 2023.
San Pablo Police Officers attempted to stop Yates for a vehicle infraction. He drove several blocks before stopping near a relative's house with his young niece and nephew in the car. At the time, Yates was on parole following previous felony convictions for carjacking, solicitation to commit murder, and possessing a loaded firearm.
Officers searched Yates but found nothing initially. However, when his six-year-old nephew exited the vehicle at Yates's urging, officers noticed an object in the child's pants. Upon inspection, they discovered a Glock firearm loaded with 11 rounds and equipped with a "Glock switch," allowing it to fire continuously with one trigger pull. During the traffic stop, Yates sent text messages asking someone to remove the child from the car before police could search it and admitted that the child had his gun.
U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey stated: "Defendant’s actions inexcusably endangered a young child. Thanks to the careful work of the officers on the scene, this did not turn into a tragedy." FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin added: "Using a child to conceal a loaded, fully automatic firearm shows an alarming disregard for their safety and well-being."
Yates faces up to 15 years in prison under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is set for April 28, 2025.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leif Dautch and Richard Ewenstein are prosecuting the case with assistance from Madeline Wachs following investigations by the FBI, Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, and San Pablo Police Department.
