Federal Jury Convicts Two Violent Gunmen of Possessing Firearms After Previous Felony Convictions

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today the convictions of TIMMY SCOTT a/k/a “TIMOTHY SCOTT,” a 24-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and KADEEM BURDEN, a 23-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  SCOTT and BURDEN were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 29, 2017 and charged with felon in possession of firearms.

After a two day trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, the jury unanimously convicted SCOTT and BURDEN.  As the evidence at trial demonstrated, on October 2, 2017, SCOTT and BURDEN initiated a shooting on Iroquois Street that was witnessed by a Baton Rouge City Police officer, who pursued SCOTT and BURDEN into a residential area.  A K-9 team assisted and found two firearms discarded under a house, a 7.62 caliber Century Arms semi-automatic AK rifle style pistol, and a 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol.  Also recovered were two Halloween style masks and two cellular phones.  Forensic testing by Louisiana State Police Crime lab and a Pittsburg, PA., private laboratory positively matched SCOTT to DNA recovered from one of the masks and matched BURDEN’s DNA to the trigger and grip of the AK rifle style pistol.  The Louisiana State Police Crime lab was also able to match the fired 9mm cartridges recovered from the shooting location to the recovered pistol.  The BATF and FBI executed search warrants on the phones and linked them to SCOTT. 

As a result of their convictions, SCOTT and BURDEN now face a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison, significant fines, restitution, and supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “I want to commend the brave and swift action of the Officers of the Baton Rouge City Police Department who were faced with two active shooters - one armed with a high-powered military style firearm.  To pursue two armed gunmen into a residential area and  apprehend them quickly, without any injuries, is a testament to their courage and dedication to protecting innocent civilians who were in harm’s way. I want to express my gratitude to all of the dedicated law enforcement personnel, including our prosecution team, who worked long hours to prepare and present this case to the jury.  The streets of Baton Rouge are much safer with these two defendants behind bars.  Our office will not rest as we continue to bring cases against the most violent offenders in our community.”

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Baton Rouge City Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lyman Thornton III and Fred Menner.