BRIDGE CITY MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 7 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR BEING FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM
ANTHONY J. THOMAS, JR., age 23, a resident of Bridge City, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to over 7 years (87 months) imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Africk imposed three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
According to court documents, THOMAS entered a guilty plea on October 19, 2010 admitting he illegally possessed a firearm on May 26, 2010. According to court documents, THOMAS attempted to flee from a New Orleans Police Officer after a traffic stop on Tennyson Court in New Orleans and ditched the firearm he had in his possession in a trash can. The officer observed THOMAS discard the firearm and was able to recover it. THOMAS has previous convictions for possession of cocaine and aggravated assault on a police officer with a firearm and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Citing eight previous convictions between the ages of 16 and 23, Judge Africk departed upward from the sentencing guideline range by thirty (30) months. After sentencing, THOMAS was remanded to the custody of the U. S. Marshal’s Service to begin his term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Tony Gordon Sanders.
