Many felon sent to federal prison for drug and firearm charges

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Jakey P. Sepulvado, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 130 months in prison for illegally possessing drugs and a firearm.

Sepulvado pleaded guilty on June 13, 2019, to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  According to information presented in court, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s deputies observed Sepulvado make a traffic violation on October 2, 2018, and attempted to stop his vehicle.  Instead of stopping, Sepulvado sped away, wrecked the car and fled on foot, but was later located and arrested.  When the deputies searched his clothing and vehicle, they found methamphetamine and a Taurus, Model 85, .38-caliber revolver and eight rounds of ammunition.

Sepulvado has a prior felony conviction for attempted simple robbery.  Under federal law, felons are not allowed to possess firearms and ammunition.

The DEA, ATF and DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leon H. Whitten and Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.