Federal gun, drug charges for former policy fellow to Minneapolis Mayor Frey

Following his initial arrest last February, a former criminal justice policy advisor for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has now been federally indicted on gun and drug charges

A former policy fellow for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing federal charges for intent to distribute cocaine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

US Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Erica MacDonald, announced the charges against Keegan Jamaal Rolenc last week citing the Department of Justice’s “Armed Career Criminal” Act.

Rolenc, 28, was a policy fellow for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey until his arrest in February. At that time, Rolenc was charged locally in Hennepin County with similar charges. Rolenc had been working in Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s office as a policy fellow on criminal justice reform until his arrest, at which time he was dismissed.

Related: Policy Fellow for Mpls Mayor Jacob Frey Charged with Drugs, Illegally Possessing Gun

Rolenc is a multi-time felon with prior convictions on two felony counts of drive-by shooting and second-degree assault in connection to a 2011 gang-related shooting where shots were fired at an occupied home and vehicle. Rolenc also has two felony narcotics convictions and a felony conviction for third-degree assault.

According to the allegations in the federal indictment, on or about February 2, 2020, Rolenc was found to be in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a digital scale and a distributable amount of cocaine during a traffic stop. Because of Rolenc’s prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

In the new charges, the DOJ referenced the “Armed Career Criminal Act” which provides a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment if a felon has three or more prior convictions for offenses that are “violent felony” offenses or “serious drug offenses.”

Rolenc has been charged with three counts: felon in possession of a firearm (Armed Career Criminal); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime 

Rolenc is currently being held in Sherburne County Jail.

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota

Crime Watch MN

Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.