Twin Bros Plead Guilty To Gun Charges After Maple Grove Traffic Stop

MAPLE GROVE, MN — A pair of twin brothers in the Twin Cities admitted to federal weapons crimes, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced Tuesday night.

Nineteen-year-olds Quantez Demarco Ward and Cortez Demario Ward pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

In early 2022, the brothers were convicted in Hennepin County on state weapons charges after they were caught in possession of firearms modified with auto sears, authorities said.

Auto sears are used to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a machine gun.

Both Cortez and Quantez Ward pleaded guilty in Hennepin County and were released on probation.

But on May 6, the brothers were pulled over by the Maple Grove Police Department. During that traffic stop, Cortez Ward was in possession of a Polymer 80 pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition, according to authorities.

On July 19, agents executed a federal arrest warrant at the Ward brothers' home and found a 9mm Ruger rifle, an H&K .22 caliber rifle, and a Pioneer 7.26 mm Pistol.

On Monday, Quantez Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon related to the firearms recovered on July 19.

On Oct. 25, Cortez Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition in the May 6 traffic stop.

Sentencing hearings have not yet been scheduled.