Lake Charles man pleads guilty to transporting explosives

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Lake Charles man pleaded guilty to transporting explosives.

Cory Duane Smith, 47, of Lake Charles, La., but who previously lived in Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter to one count of transportation of explosives. According to the guilty plea, Smith transported two spools of detonating cord, one box of boosters and two boxes of detonators from Shreveport to Bossier City between mid-April 2014 and May 31, 2014. Smith’s former roommate discovered the explosives in his garage at his Bossier City home more than a year after the explosives had been transported there. The roommate notified law enforcement agents of the presence of the explosives in his garage. Law enforcement subsequently interviewed Smith, who admitted to transporting the explosives from a residence in Shreveport to the roommate’s residence in Bossier City.

Smith faces up to 10 years in prison, one to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of July 14, 2017 was set.

The ATF and the Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Drucker is prosecuting the case.