Bastrop Man Facing Federal Firearms Charges

MONROE, La. – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment on October 9, 2019, charging Brandon Keith Harris, 32, of Bastrop, Louisiana, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph announced. This indictment stems from the joint federal and local investigation into the July 14, 2018, firearm theft from Simmons’ Sporting Goods in Bastrop, Louisiana.

According to the indictment, Harris, who is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions, is accused of unlawfully possessing six pistols and a rifle on July 14, 2018. The indictment also alleges that the firearms were stolen from a licensed firearms dealer. Under federal law, it is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or ammunition.

If convicted, Harris faces up to 10 years in prison and fines for each offense, and a period of supervised release following confinement.

The ATF, Bastrop Police Department, and Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Shannon is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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