Federal jury convicts St. Paul felon for illegal possession of a firearm

Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press
·1 min read

A St. Paul man arrested in June for pointing a gun at a motorist on the Robert Street Bridge was convicted in federal court last week of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A jury found Samson Diamonte Xavior-Smith, 27, guilty of the charge Thursday following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel in St. Paul. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

According to the evidence, St. Paul police on June 25 received a 911 call that a pedestrian, who was later identified as Xavior-Smith, had pointed a gun at the driver of a stopped vehicle on the bridge. Officers responded to the scene and after a foot chase arrested Xavior-Smith at the intersection of Fourth and Cedar streets.

During the chase, officers saw Xavior-Smith drop something into a trash can, which was also recorded on city surveillance cameras. Officers recovered a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from the trash can, and testing found Xavior-Smith’s DNA on the gun.

Because Xavior-Smith has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Washington Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

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