Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Brainerd Man Sentenced To Prison, $12 Million In Restitution For Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Arson

MINNEAPOLIS – A Brainerd man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in the arsons at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building.

According to court documents, on the night of May 28, 2020, Dylan Shakespeare Robinson, 23, went to the Third Precinct where a crowd of hundreds had gathered. At one point, the crowd began shouting, “Burn it down, burn it down.” Soon after, a fence that was designed to keep trespassers out of the Third Precinct was torn down. Robinson, along with other co-conspirators, breached the fence and entered the building. Robinson, assisted by an unidentified co-conspirator, lit an object held by the unidentified co-conspirator who threw it toward the Third Precinct building with the intent that it would start a fire or fuel an existing fire.

“On the night of May 28, 2020, Mr. Robinson chose to depart from lawful protest and instead engaged in violence and destruction. The arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct put lives at risk and contributed to widespread lawlessness in Minneapolis,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk. “With today’s sentence, Mr. Robinson is held accountable for his actions.”

“ATF is committed to investigating the civil unrest arsons of 2020 that occurred throughout the Twin Cities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “Arson, being inherently violent, is a serious crime that put many of our community members at risk, and it cannot be tolerated.”

“The danger posed by the defendant in this case was very real,” said Michael Paul, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis field office. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message—regardless of motivation, when someone is intent on conducting a violent act that breaks federal law, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will move assertively to hold them accountable. This type of behavior puts public servants and our entire community in danger, and we simply will not let it go unaddressed.”

On December 15, 2020, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit arson. As part of his sentencing today, Robinson was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $12 million in restitution.

Co-conspirators Bryce Michael Williams, 27, Davon De-Andre Turner, 25, and Branden Michael Wolfe, 23, have all pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit arson for their roles in the arson at the Third Precinct building. They will be sentenced at a later date.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the ATF, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and David P. Steinkamp.

DOJ

DYLAN SHAKESPEARE ROBINSON, 22

Brainerd, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count

Read the indictment

Views: 19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Four Indicted In Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Arson

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging DYLAN SHAKESPEARE ROBINSON, 22, DAVON DE-ANDRE TURNER, 24, BYRCE MICHAEL WILLIAMS, 26, and BRANDEN MICHAEL WOLFE, 23, with one count each of conspiracy to commit arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct. ROBINSON and WOLFE, were previously charged via federal criminal complaint with aiding and abetting arson. WILLIAMS was previously charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit arson. Formal detention and arraignment hearings will be scheduled at a later date.

According to the allegations in the indictment, on May 28, 2020, ROBINSON, TURNER, WILLIAMS, and WOLFE each went to the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct where a crowd of hundreds had gathered. At one point, the crowd began shouting, “Burn it down, burn it down.” Soon after, a fence that was designed to keep trespassers out of the Third Precinct building was torn down. ROBINSON, TURNER, WILLIAMS, and WOLFE, along with unidentified other co-conspirators, breached the fence and entered the Third Precinct building.

According to the allegations in the indictment, ROBINSON, assisted by an unidentified co-conspirator, lit an incendiary device held by the unidentified co-conspirator who threw it toward the Third Precinct building with the intent that it would start a fire or fuel an existing fire. WILLIAMS and TURNER, assisted by an unidentified co-conspirator, lit a Molotov cocktail, which was taken into the Third Precinct building by TURNER and used to start a fire. WOLFE pushed a barrel into a fire at the entrance of the Third Precinct building to accelerate an existing fire.

The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected arson, use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information specifically related to the Third Precinct fire or other business fires in the Twin Cities can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com. In addition to fires, the FBI is looking for people who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at FBI.gov/violence.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the ATF, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and David P. Steinkamp.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant Information:

DYLAN SHAKESPEARE ROBINSON, 22

Brainerd, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count

DAVON DE-ANDRE TURNER, 24

[NO PHOTO WILL ADD]

St. Paul, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count

BRYCE MICHAEL WILLIAMS, 26

Staples, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count

BRANDEN MICHAEL WOLFE, 23

St. Paul, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to commit arson, 1 count

Views: 16

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal criminal complaint against DYLAN SHAKESPEARE ROBINSON, 22, charging him with aiding and abetting arson at the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct. ROBINSON, who was arrested on June, 14, 2020, in Breckenridge, Colorado, made his initial appearance earlier today, before Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter in U.S. District Court in Denver.

According to the allegations in the complaint, on the night of May 28, 2020, the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was overrun and heavily damaged due to vandalism and arson. Investigators identified multiple separate fires had been started in the building. Surveillance video footage from the Third Precinct shows two individuals light a Molotov cocktail and throw it at the Third Precinct building. One of the individuals can be seen throwing a second Molotov cocktail at the Third Precinct building. Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were able to identify ROBINSON in the surveillance video.

According to the allegations in the complaint, ATF investigators reviewed a video posted on ROBINSON’s Snapchat account that shows at least one individual appearing to make a Molotov cocktail while multiple unidentified voices provide directions on how to make the device. During the video, ROBINSON typed several comments, including “These guys have never made a Molotov… Rookies,” and “We need gasoline.” Investigators reviewed another Snapchat video in which ROBINSON can be seen setting a fire in a stairwell inside the Third Precinct. On the evening of June 12, 2020, investigators located ROBINSON in the Denver, Colorado area. ROBINSON was arrested on June, 14, 2020, in Breckenridge, Colorado.

The ATF and FBI urge the public to report suspected arson, use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information specifically related to the Third Precinct fire or other business fires in the Twin Cities can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com. In addition to fires, the FBI is looking for people who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at FBI.gov/violence.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul and Denver Field Divisions, the FBI Minneapolis and Denver Field Offices, the United States Forest Service, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the Breckenridge Police Department, the Dillon Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and David P. Steinkamp.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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