Sabine Parish felon pleads guilty to possessing four firearms at pawn shop

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Converse felon pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing two rifles, a revolver and a shotgun that he pawned.

Joseph Seth Rivers, 35, of Converse, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents discovered that on August 20, 2016 in Many, Louisiana, Rivers had pawned four firearms: a Smith & Wesson revolver, model: 66, caliber .357; a Ruger rifle, model: 10-22, caliber 22LR; a Browning shotgun, model BPS, caliber 16 gauge; and a Remington rifle, model: 700, caliber .270. Pawn shop staff provided a copy of Rivers’ driver’s license to law enforcement, which he had presented when pawning the firearms. Rivers is not allowed to possess firearms as he has been previously convicted of a felony for aggravated assault with a firearm in 2009.

Rivers faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of October 24, 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 Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney a Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.