Shreveport felon pleads guilty to illegal firearm possession

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded revolver after being convicted of a felony.

Joseph Dominic Pronnette Jr., 34, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, members of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force executed an arrest warrant on September 13, 2015 on Pronnette for a prior felony.  He was found in the driver’s seat of a car parked behind a residence in Shreveport.  After he was removed from the car and taken into custody, a loaded .38 caliber revolver was found on the driver’s seat.

It is unlawful for Pronnette to possess a firearm or ammunition as he has prior felony convictions for felony theft, simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, and domestic abuse aggravated assault.

Pronnette faces up to 10 years in prison, one to three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of August 1, 2016 was set.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case.