Felon from Many pleads guilty to possessing firearms after assault and police standoff at barbershop

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a felon from Many pleaded guilty Monday to possessing four firearms after an assault and police standoff at a barbershop.

Willie D. Carhee, 55, of Many, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, police responded to a 911 call of a domestic assault that occurred at a barbershop in Many on April 27, 2017. After the assault, Carhee, the assailant, ran inside the barbershop where he worked and refused to leave. The victim told the police dispatcher that Carhee had a firearm at the barbershop as well as firearms at his home. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and called SWAT. A Many Police officer found and seized a loaded Hi-Point Firearms .45 caliber pistol in plain view in Carhee’s car, which was parked in front of the barbershop. After SWAT threw a telephone through the window of the barbershop, Carhee surrendered to authorities. A search of the barbershop yielded approximately 190 grams of marijuana and a scale. Police searched Carhee’s home and found a Marlin, Glenfield model 70, .22 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 770, .308 caliber rifle; a Remington, model: 710, .30-06 caliber rifle; and several marijuana plants in the backyard. Carhee has at least six felony convictions, which are: possession of a Schedule II drug in the 10th Judicial District, Natchitoches Parish, on March 12, 2012; possession/introduction of contraband into a penal institution on July 10, 2008; manufacturing of a Schedule I drug and illegal carrying of a weapon in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, on September 14, 2006; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 294th Judicial District, Dallas, Texas; and reckless injury to a child in Dallas, Texas. Being a felon, Carhee is not allowed to possess a firearm.

Carhee faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of November 29, 2018.

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.

The ATF and Many Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.