Federal Jury Convicts Coon Rapids Man Of Shipping Firearms To Liberia

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a jury found a 38-year-old Coon Rapids man guilty of transporting firearms to his home country of Liberia. McHarding Degan Galimah, who was indicted on August 22, 2012, was specifically convicted of one count of smuggling firearms from the United States to Liberia.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Galimah purchased 12 firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer, including seven hi-point, 9-millimeters handguns. In November 2010 and July 2011, he exported those weapons to Liberia and made several trips to that country himself to take possession of the firearms to resell for a profit. At no time did he possess a license to transport the firearms, as required by law. Also, federal regulations prohibit any firearms from being exported to Liberia.

For his crime, Galimah faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case was the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Dunne.