Amiir Mawlid Ali
Introduction
Amiir Mawlid Ali, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun, a sentence announced by United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. A federal jury found Ali guilty on April 16, 2026, after evidence at trial showed that a firearm equipped with a machine-gun conversion device was discovered under his seat during a June 3, 2025 traffic stop in Minneapolis, and that the weapon carried his DNA. Squad car video also captured Ali instructing the other occupants of the car to deny knowledge of the gun.
Background Information
The firearm at the center of the case had been reported stolen, which officers learned on the same day as the stop. An expert at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives examined the weapon and established that it was able to fire multiple rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger, making it operate as a machine gun. One of the officers involved also recognized Ali as a member of the “Muddy” street gang, known to law enforcement for its history of suspected involvement in weapons offenses.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Convicted and sentenced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 3, 2025, Minneapolis Police Department officers executed a traffic stop on a silver sedan due to multiple traffic violations. The car had three occupants, including Ali, who was seated in the front passenger seat. When officers removed Ali from the vehicle to conduct a safety sweep, he attempted to flee, but officers apprehended him before he could escape. During the safety sweep, officers found a firearm equipped with a machine-gun conversion device under Ali’s seat. Officers learned the same day that the firearm had been reported stolen.
The evidence presented at trial extended well beyond the stop itself. Backseat squad car video shown at trial shows Ali instructing the other occupants of the vehicle to deny knowledge of the machine gun, a weapon that was found to have Ali’s DNA on it. The ATF expert testimony established that the firearm fired multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, and an officer identified Ali as a member of the “Muddy” street gang. The jury found Ali guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun on April 16, 2026.
Ali was initially released following his arrest for this offense. On June 5, 2025, the United States filed a complaint alleging possession of a machine gun. Law enforcement then executed a federal warrant and arrested Ali on the scene of a suspected gang-related shooting at a Twin Cities high school graduation, where officers heard Ali scream “you missed” to an individual believed to be involved in the incident.
Public Reaction and Consequences
United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said: “The defendant possessed an extremely dangerous weapon that is capable of extreme damage. Today’s sentence ensures that this defendant is held accountable for the public safety threat that he posed to the community.” FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson added: “While violent crime rates are down across the board, we have seen far too much gang violence in the Twin Cities over the past few months,” and “As we work relentlessly to secure our neighborhoods, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and our state and local partners continue to prioritize investigations of gang members driving violence with illegal firearms. Today’s sentence should be a message to gang members across the state—when you carry an illegal firearm, justice will find you.” The case resulted from an investigation by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department, and Assistant United States Attorney Albania Concepcion prosecuted it.
Current Status
Ali has been convicted and sentenced: the jury returned its guilty verdict on April 16, 2026, and the court imposed a 33-month prison term for the single machine-gun count. The release describes no term of supervised release, no fine, and no restitution in connection with the sentence. His custody status shifted along the way, from initial release after the June 2025 arrest to an arrest on the June 5, 2025 complaint at the scene of a suspected gang-related shooting at a Twin Cities high school graduation, and finally to trial and conviction. The sentence announced by U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen on October 28, 2026 closes the prosecution.
Impact on Their Career/Life
The 33-month federal sentence is the direct cost of the conversion device found under Ali’s seat, a weapon modification that the ATF expert confirmed turned the stolen firearm into a machine gun. His identification in court as a member of the “Muddy” street gang, known to law enforcement for suspected involvement in weapons offenses, now sits alongside the conviction, as does the squad car video of him telling the car’s other occupants to deny knowledge of the gun. FBI officials cast the sentence as a warning to gang members across the state that carrying an illegal firearm ends with justice finding them.
Sources
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, “Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 33 Months’ Imprisonment for Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun”, October 28, 2026 — source