A federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, has reached a guilty verdict in the trial of Clenest Demon Wells, Jr., as confirmed by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Wells, 28, faced charges related to illegal possession of firearms, including possession of a machinegun.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed Wells' history of illegal firearm possession despite previous felony convictions prohibiting him from doing so. On April 6, 2020, authorities in Minneapolis apprehended Wells following an incident on a Metro Transit bus where he threatened another passenger with a gun. Wells was found with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
Further incidents included a traffic stop on May 23, 2022, where Wells was discovered with another 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol and an event on July 30, 2023, where Wells was found with a Glock handgun modified to function as a machinegun. The modification allowed the weapon to fire ten rounds in less than a second.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick remarked on the conviction stating, “Today’s conviction holds Wells accountable for the fear and violence he has inflicted on the community for far too long. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to prevent violent crime.” Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI highlighted the risks involved in such offenses, noting, “Possession of a firearm modified to function as a machinegun in a public space could have had tragic consequences.”
The trial spanned three days under the jurisdiction of Judge Donovan W. Frank. Wells was found guilty on three counts of illegal possession of firearms as a felon and an additional count related to machinegun possession. A sentencing hearing will follow in the future.
The investigation involved collaboration between the FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, Metro Transit Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Green and Syngen Kanassatega were responsible for prosecuting the case.
