Convicted Felon Indicted For Gun Crimes And Witness Tampering

BATON ROUGE, LA –United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a Superseding Indictment charging QUENTRELL D. FOUNTAIN, age 27, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with possessing a firearm while a convicted felon, tampering with a witness and victim, retaliating against a witness and victim, and discharging a firearm during the commission of crimes of violence.  If convicted, the defendant faces a significant term of imprisonment, fines, restitution and the forfeiture of all property involved or used in the commission of the crimes.

The Superseding Indictment alleges that on January 8, 2014 FOUNTAIN beat and threatened his victim with a firearm, stating: “If I wanted to kill you, I could kill you.”  According to the Indictment, after law enforcement learned of the incident, FOUNTAIN threatened the victim stating: “I am going to show you for calling the police.”   Later that night, FOUNTAIN allegedly fired multiple gunshots in the vicinity of the victim’s residence, while the victim and her child were inside.  Later, on March 2, 2014, FOUNTAIN allegedly fired a gun at a vehicle carrying the victim and two other individuals.  According to the Indictment, on June 17, 2014 FOUNTAIN was discovered by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in possession of a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Green stated: “Stopping gun violence and witness tampering are high priorities for this office.  Those seeking to undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system by tampering with victims and witnesses will face severe consequences in federal court, particularly when a firearm is involved.”

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Baton Rouge City Police, and the Port Allen City Police.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Sanchez.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury.  The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.