Former St. Cloud Planning Commissioner Pleads Guilty in Illegal Gun Sale

(KNSI) – The former St. Cloud Planning Commission member who ran the nonprofit Too Much Talent pleaded guilty to illegally transferring a handgun and received a 90 day stayed jail sentence, plus one year of probation.

Lenora Hunt entered her guilty plea on June 24th in Stearns County District Court. Under the plea agreement, she won’t serve jail time unless she violates probation. She paid $189 in fines and fees.

The case stems from a July 2024 incident where Hunt helped Devounteno Lavance Tyson sell a handgun to an undercover informant. At the time, Tyson was under investigation for fentanyl sales in St. Cloud.

Before the gun sale, investigators recorded conversations between Hunt and Tyson where she discussed running for mayor and potentially helping him and several co-defendants with their criminal cases if she won. The recordings also captured Hunt discussing a gun in her possession, how much money she wanted for it, grant funding she was receiving, and other personal details. Tyson also mentioned bonding out of jail and Hunt “having a lawyer ready to go.”

According to investigators, Tyson entered Too Much Talent to meet with Hunt and returned shortly after with a loaded .9mm handgun, which he handed over to the informant. Police say Hunt did not attempt to comply with Minnesota statutes regulating firearm sales, including conducting a required background check, filling out a Private Party Transfer Form, and keeping records on file for 10 years as required by law.

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