Cass County Felon Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing

MINNEAPOLIS - A convicted felon has been sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in an illegal firearm straw purchasing conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, on May 26, 2023, Donald Duane Armstrong, Jr., 36, and a co-conspirator entered a Federal Firearms Licensee in Walker, Minnesota, where the co-conspirator purchased a Glock model 23 G5, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, intending to transfer the firearm to Armstrong, who is a convicted felon. In purchasing the firearm, Armstrong's co-conspirator lied when filling out the ATF Form 4473, which certifies that he was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearm, when in fact the firearm was intended for Armstrong. On June 14, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Armstrong's residence. At the residence law enforcement seized 14 firearms, including the firearm purchased on May 26, 2023. Because Armstrong has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Armstrong pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force and the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.