Three Men from Lake Charles Area Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of three defendants for illegally possessing firearms. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the three men yesterday in United States District Court.

Paul Wilson, 49, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  On November 30, 2019, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene of a reported shooting of a dog. During their investigation, deputies learned that Wilson had come to the victim’s residence and shot his dog. Wilson was still on the scene when deputies arrived, and they found him to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol. On another occasion in May 2020, Wilson was also found to be in possession of a Hi-Point .45 caliber pistol. Wilson has a prior felony conviction for aggravated battery and is prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was charged in an indictment and pleaded guilty on September 15, 2022. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.

Robert Joubert, 38, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  In this case, officers with the Lake Charles Police Department were flagged down in reference to an abandoned vehicle and a disturbance between Joubert and his girlfriend. Joubert and his girlfriend had left the scene. Officers began a search for the suspects and located them walking a few blocks away. Joubert was carrying a camo-colored backpack and was given a verbal command to stop but continued to walk away from officers. The officer observed him throw an item under a nearby residence which was later determined to be a marijuana blunt. Joubert was detained and admitted to throwing his backpack in a nearby trash can. Officers found synthetic marijuana inside the backpack, as well as Ecstasy, a digital scale and a firearm. Joubert has three prior felony convictions for possession of controlled substances, and possession of a weapon while in possession of a controlled substance. Joubert pleaded guilty on October 26, 2022. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.

Brian W. Chappell, 58, of LaPlace, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of firearms. Chappell was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm without a serial number. Chappell pleaded guilty to the charges October 5, 2022. On September 29, 2021, a tow truck being driven by Chappell was stopped by officers with the Leesville Police Department. A search warrant was obtained and officers with the Leesville and deputies with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office searched Chappell’s vehicle. During their search, officers found several firearms and three firearm suppressors. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the suppressors and found them to be contain the same parts as a silencer.  Chappell admitted to owning the silencers and had not registered them with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Leesville Police Department and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.

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