Following a recent court ruling, Ronnie Bila Shaka, 44, faces more than a decade behind bars for firearms possession as a convicted felon. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced that Shaka received a sentence of 140 months in prison, which will be followed by three years of supervised release, according to a report from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Shaka's arrest background involves a history of domestic violence and weapon offenses. After responding officers, dispatched to a domestic dispute on November 2, 2023, police apprehended Shaka alongside his pregnant girlfriend and her child in his residence after forcing entry. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Shaka used a ghost gun during the dispute to threaten his partner and prevent her from leaving.
A search warrant executed afterwards led to the discovery of five firearms, ammunition, and magazines in safes located by Shaka’s bedside. Among these were two "ghost guns," untraceable due to their lack of serial numbers and modified to operate as fully automatic weapons. Evidence from Shaka's cell phone revealed him firing these guns, flaunting their power in text messages.
Senior U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson, who sentenced Shaka, highlighted the lethal nature of the firearms, especially those modified with switches, intended, “they’re made to kill people,” he said. Judge Magnuson also condemned Shaka's threatening behavior towards his girlfriend, stating that such treatment was “unconscionable," as per the information from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The verdict concludes an investigation by the ATF and Robbinsdale Police Department, with help from the Crystal Police Department. The case, demonstrating zero tolerance for domestic violence and gun offenses, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth S. Shnider and William C. Mattessich. Shaka's lengthy sentence reflects both his past offenses and the serious risks he posed to those closest to him and the broader community.
