Federal Indictments In Gun Store Burglaries

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that a federal grand jury has returned two indictments in connection with an ongoing investigation into schemes to burglarize three gun stores in Baton Rouge and Prairieville, Louisiana. 

CHARLES K. EVANS, age 20, and GENO EUGENE LYONS, age 24, were both indicted for conspiring to steal firearms, to possess and sell stolen firearms, and to receive and possess unregistered machine guns and silencers.  EVANS and LYONS are also charged with stealing firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers and with receipt and possession of unregistered firearms.

According to the Indictments, EVANS and LYONS conspired together to steal firearms from Bowie Outfitters in Baton Rouge, Hebert Guns in Prairieville, and Meaux Guns in Baton Rouge.  The Indictments allege that on June 9, 2015, EVANS and LYONS, along with a third individual, forced entry into Bowie Outfitters and stole approximately thirty-two (32) firearms.  The Indictments further allege that on July 5, 2015, EVANS and LYONS, along with a third individual, unsuccessfully attempted to steal firearms from Hebert Guns, then drove to Meaux Guns, where they forced entry and stole approximately forty-three (43) firearms, including two silencers.  The Indictments allege that EVANS and LYONS subsequently sold firearms that they had stolen from Bowie Outfitters and Meaux Guns. 

U.S. Attorney Walt Green stated:  “When guns are stolen and sold on the street, it opens an illicit avenue of commerce that allows gangs, drug traffickers, and felons to arm themselves.  Such conduct drastically heightens the risk of gun violence in our neighborhoods, threatening our citizens and the law enforcement officers charged with protecting them.   Our office treats the conduct alleged here with the utmost seriousness, particularly because it undermines the commendable efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement to rid the scourge of deadly gun violence from our streets.  Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute any individuals who illegally traffic in firearms.” 

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.  The investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with substantial assistance from the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Crosswell and Peter Smyczek.

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