Ronnie Bila Shaka, 44, has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing firearms as a felon. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Domestic abusers are among the most dangerous offenders we face,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “They prey on the very people they should protect and in doing so endanger their victims, police officers, and the community as a whole. When someone shows they are willing to terrorize their own family, they have forfeited their right to walk free. More than a decade in federal prison is exactly what this conduct deserves, and it should serve as a warning: we will not tolerate domestic violence and we will hold these offenders accountable before they can destroy more lives.”
Court documents show that on November 2, 2023, law enforcement responded to Shaka’s home after receiving a report of a domestic dispute involving a firearm. Officers forced entry into the residence where they found Shaka with his pregnant girlfriend and her baby. Shaka had threatened his girlfriend with an untraceable gun known as a ghost gun to prevent her from leaving.
A search warrant led officers to discover five firearms stored in safes next to Shaka’s bed, along with numerous magazines and ammunition. Two of the guns were Polymer 80 ghost guns lacking serial numbers and fitted with machinegun conversion devices that made them fully automatic. Videos recovered from Shaka’s cell phone showed him firing these weapons outside his home, accompanied by text messages in which he boasted about their power.
Shaka has a lengthy criminal record that includes eight prior felony convictions and six previous convictions related to firearms offenses. His history of domestic violence-related crimes dates back to when he was 18 years old and includes multiple assaults, making threats of violence, and repeated violations of no-contact orders.
Senior U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson handed down the sentence following Shaka’s guilty plea. In court, Judge Magnuson highlighted the threat posed by the weapons involved in this case, stating that guns equipped with “switches” are designed solely for lethal purposes: “they’re made to kill people.” The judge also acknowledged evidence that Shaka had threatened his girlfriend with a firearm during the incident leading to his arrest, describing Shaka’s actions toward her as “unconscionable.”
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Robbinsdale Police Department, with support from the Crystal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth S. Shnider and William C. Mattessich prosecuted the case.
