In St. Paul, Minnesota, a federal jury has found Clenest Demon Wells, Jr. guilty of illegal possession of firearms as a felon and unlawful possession of a machinegun. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Wells, 28, who has multiple prior felony convictions, was previously apprehended for illegal possession of firearms on multiple occasions.
The incidents began on April 6, 2020, when Wells was identified on a Metro Transit bus in Minneapolis, reportedly brandishing a firearm. Law enforcement found him with a HiPoint 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Two years later, on May 23, 2022, Minneapolis Police stopped Wells, who was driving a Pontiac G6. Upon inspection, officers found him in possession of a Springfield Model XD9 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
The third incident occurred on July 30, 2023, when Wells was reported to have a gun during a fight in downtown Minneapolis. Upon further investigation, officers discovered that Wells had a Glock model 17 9-millimeter handgun equipped with a “switch,” enabling it to function as a fully automatic machine gun. An FBI test demonstrated the gun's ability to fire ten rounds in less than a second.
“Today’s conviction holds Wells accountable for the fear and violence he has inflicted on the community for far too long,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. She emphasized the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prevent violent crime.
Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. from the FBI Minneapolis underlined the dangers of having a modified firearm function as a machine gun in public. “Protecting our communities from violence is a top priority, and we are committed to working with our partners to stop those who put innocent lives at risk,” he said.
The trial took place over three days before Judge Donovan W. Frank at the U.S. District Court. Wells faces three counts of illegal possession of firearms as a felon and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Green and Syngen Kanassatega prosecuted the case.