Attempt to Cover Up Firearms Offense Leads to Incarceration for Man and Woman from Menominee Indian Reservation

Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that two individuals, Aaron C. Smith (Age: 27), formerly of Keshena, Wisconsin and Keanna R. King (Age: 26), of Keshena, Wisconsin received sentences after convictions related to a firearms offense on the Menominee Indian Reservation:

The sentences, imposed on December 30, 2019, and January 3, 2020, by United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, were the result of guilty pleas entered by the defendants on September 26, 2019. Smith pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g) and Tampering with a Witness in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1). King pleaded guilty to Perjury before a Grand Jury in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1623(a). Judge Griesbach sentenced the defendants as follows:

The investigation revealed that on April 21, 2019, Smith possessed a small-caliber semiautomatic handgun while at a bar on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Officers with the Menominee Tribal Police Department entered the bar in order to arrest Smith, who had a warrant for his arrest through Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Smith passed the handgun to King, who concealed it in her vehicle. Officers later interviewed King, and she admitted she received the handgun from Smith. King then allowed officers to take it from her vehicle.

After his arrest, Smith called King from a jail phone numerous times in an effort to get her to change her story. King provided false testimony before a Federal Grand Jury in Milwaukee on May 29, 2019 when she denied Smith handed her the gun.

In sentencing the defendants, Judge Griesbach noted the seriousness of the crimes the defendants committed. Judge Griesbach also remarked upon the need to deter those would might consider similar actions.

The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted.

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For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700

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