St. Paul man convicted of illegal gun possession

A St. Paul man has been found guilty by a federal jury of illegal gun possession.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 27-year-old Samson Diamonte Xavior-Smith was convicted last week of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors say St. Paul police received a report on June 25, 2021, that a man had pointed a gun at the driver of a vehicle stopped on the Robert Street Bridge. After a foot chase, officers were able to arrest Xavior-Smith.

Authorities say surveillance cameras showed Xavior-Smith had put something in a trash can before he was arrested. Officers looked inside the trash can and found a pistol, which later tested positive for Xavior-Smith’s DNA.

The attorney’s office says Xavior-Smith has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Washington counties that made him unable to have a gun or ammunition.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.