Tangipahoa Parish Men Sentenced for Burglary of a Federal Firearms Licensee

NEW ORLEANS – DEMARCO JONES, age 23 of Tickfaw, and WILLIE WALKER, age 22 of Hammond, were sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. 

JONES and WALKER pled guilty to theft of firearms in connection with the April 8, 2016 burglary of the Tickfaw Auction Company (a federal firearms licensee), during which 25 handguns were stolen.  Additionally, WALKER admitted to possession of stolen firearms and JONES tendered a guilty plea to possession of firearms by a felon.  

Judge Engelhardt sentenced JONES to thirty-six (36) months imprisonment, while WALKER received a fifty-seven (57) month sentence.  Upon release from imprisonment, both defendants will serve a three (3) year term of supervised release.  Additionally, the defendants were both ordered to pay $200 special assessment fees.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Hammond Police Department, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. McMahon.

*   *   *