MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 280 months prison followed by five years of supervised release for methamphetamine trafficking and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
On June 16, 2022, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, William Howard Proto Jr., 45, was convicted on two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. During the trial, Proto pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, on June 29, 2021, officers with the Bloomington Police Department arrested Proto after he was found in the driver’s seat of a stolen Cadillac Escalade. Officers searched the vehicle and found nine pounds of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine, digital scales, more than $50,000 in cash, and a loaded firearm. Following his arrest, Proto was indicted in U.S. District Court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon.
On August 19, 2021, pursuant to a federal warrant, agents located Proto at a hotel in Woodbury, Minnesota. Officers arrested Proto as he was wheeling a luggage cart in the parking lot towards his SUV. On the luggage cart in a black duffle bag, officers found five pounds of methamphetamine, $5,000 in cash, an assault style rifle, and loaded magazines. Proto also had a loaded 9-mm handgun in his pocket. Officers searched Proto’s SUV and found additional ammunition.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne, Joseph S. Teirab, and Ruth Shnider prosecuted the case.