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Press Release

Shreveport felon pleads guilty to illegally possessing a firearm, parked at apartment complex

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, La. United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man previously convicted of a felony pleaded guilty Wednesday to unlawfully possessing a pistol while parked outside a Shreveport apartment.

Charles M. Thomas, 21, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer observed a vehicle idling in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Quail Creek Road.  When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed Thomas, the driver, placing a handgun under his seat.  The firearm was loaded with four rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.  Thomas had previously been convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm in 2016.

Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of May 18, 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 safe 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 Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

Updated February 22, 2018

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods