Three South Louisiana Men Sentenced for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

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Three South Louisiana Men Sentenced for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

LAFAYETTE, La. – -(AmmoLand.com)- Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that three men from South Louisiana were sentenced today for illegally possessing firearms by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr.

Jaquan Smith, 27, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of an unregistered firearm.

On October 10, 2018, law enforcement officers in Jennings, Louisiana stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in which Smith was a passenger. Officers found Smith to have a square-shaped object bearing a Glock insignia in his possession. The device is capable of converting a firearm into a machine gun. The machine gun converter device was not registered to Smith in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Smith knew that the purpose of the converter device was to turn a semi-automatic weapon into a machine gun and was illegal for him to possess.

The ATF and Jennings Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Forrest Phillips and Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

Jeffery James Sullivan, 24, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.

On August 18, 2018, Sullivan attempted to purchase a firearm while under indictment on felony charges in the 14th Judicial District Court in the State of Louisiana, including aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon in commission of a crime of violence. While completing the ATF Form 4473 to purchase the firearm, Sullivan falsely answered “NO” to the question on the form, “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime, for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year?” Sullivan made this false statement intending to deceive the firearms dealer in order to purchase the firearm and was therefore charged.

The ATF conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker prosecuted the case.

Timothy Caudle, 43, of Oakdale, Louisiana, was sentenced to 2 years of supervised probation, for illegally possessing firearms at a federal facility.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 10, 2019, when Caudle went to the Fort Polk Community Based Outpatient Clinic for an appointment. When clinic administrators told Caudle they would not be able to order his medication because he was behind on his scheduled appointments with the Clinic, Caudle became upset and made threatening remarks to the staff. This behavior caused law enforcement officers to monitor Caudle and determine whether or not he had any weapons on his person or in his vehicle, which possession was strictly prohibited in the federal facility and on the federal property. Officers found that Caudle illegally possessed two firearms in his vehicle on the federal property.

This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leon H. Whitten and John W. Nickel.

These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

 


Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( ATF )

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linkman

More examples where law enforcement officers violated their oaths to uphold the Constitution.

HLB

Businesses have the right to refuse service? Yes and no. They enter in to a contract when they take you on as a customer, just as you do. To refuse you service could be a contractual problem. Then there is the U.S. Constitution. The 14th amendment says to treat everybody equally. requiring a mask on everybody is equal and since open face is not a constitutionally protected right then maybe this will pass. However, try this on weapons grounds as musicman44mag references above. Immediately you have a situation where the business is violating the U.S. Constitution amendments 2 and 14.… Read more »

Finnky

I’m not following your link – but we all know BofA is anti to the point that gun owners should never do business with them. Regardless of what I think of the company, business owners have the right to make rules for visiting in their property. Many still require masks. If you break the rules and they tell you to leave, you must or it becomes trespassing. If cops come and you continue to refuse it is felony trespassing. Your disbelief and refusal to recognize property rights makes you a Karen. Claiming you have moral rights to do whatever tf… Read more »

Roland T. Gunner

The “contract” created with the customer when they throw open the doors to the public to do business should be a 2-way street. They should not be able to restrict your unobtrusive exercise of any constitutional right. I am a retired Texas peace officer, and I know what the Penal Code says, but I believe the logic used to frame the law was flawed. Like many laws.

JPM

More BATFE Bullsh*t! Smith had a gun part. So what? It was only illegal because BATFE “Administrative Law” (one they created without Congress, which is unconstitutional) made it illegal. The part has the potential for harm, if it goes in a gun. BATFE, and too many other Feds put people in jail, not for committing a real crime or doing harm, but simply for having the potential, or having the potential of doing harm. Not unlike arresting someone for having a motorcycle with a part that would allow the vehicle the potential to break the speed limit. Sullivan, had yet… Read more »

Ryben Flynn

It’s called “Constructive Intent”. Just having a part that can convert a gun to automatic fire is illegal even if you don’t own a gun that can be converted.
Even marking an AR lower for the sear pin makes it a machine gun even if you don’t have the auto sear.
Same goes for suppressors. You have a tube and undrilled baffles, you have “Constructive Intent” to build a suppressor.
I agree it’s stupid, but what can you do about it?

nrringlee

OK, this is all good. But ATF has still failed to answer my question of now over 20 years: is William Jefferson Clinton registered in the NICS system as a prohibited person? Is not perjury a felony?

RoyD

That, of course, “Depends on what the meaning of the word is is.”, doesn’t it.

Stag

Check out the government thugs bragging about armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and violation of rights again.

HLB

Timothy Caudle, 43, of Oakdale, Louisiana, was sentenced to 2 years of supervised probation, for illegally possessing firearms at a federal facility.”

Title 18 US code, Section 930, subsection D, Paragraph 3.

The man had every Constitutional right and Lawful right to have those weapons.

HLB

HLB

Title 18 US code, Section 930, subsection D, Paragraph 3 specifically applies to federal property.

HLB

Tionico

You are spot on with the idiocy of not ven being able to have your firearm secured in the car you are no longer in just because your car crossed an imaginary line and you now happen to be on “federal property” which is OUT property anyway. It is as if they believe I can carry that thing everywhere and no issues, but the instant I cross that dotted line on the tarmac I turn into a raving murderous hooligan……. I get the laws about not having guns inside courts. There was an incident some years back where an indicted… Read more »

Finnky

Haven’t been in a courthouse for years, but at that point we did not have a supportive system like that here in Texas. Lock it in the car or leave it at home! Fortunately here if ATF doesn’t classify it as a firearm then neither does Texas law. Park at a school or court – strip pistol and leave the serialized part (typically frame) locked up, pocket slide, mags and ammo. Legal and while a thief could take the gun they won’t be armed. Read about a teacher in some state who was arrested because he’d had some ammo in… Read more »

Docduracoat

Looks like Mr Caudle had the guns in his car when he went in for his doctors appointment.
Too bad for him to be prosecuted for keeping the guns in a car on Feseral property.
Is this a felony?
Did he now lose his rights to even possess guns?

JPM

If he was convicted of a felony he cannot possess guns.

RoyD

See below.

Last edited 3 years ago by RoyD
gregs

i agree with several points you make. it is good to see the batfe finally doing something to combat illegal firearms purchases rather than go after individuals and companies that haven’t violated the law, i.e. bumpstocks, 80% receivers and create a national firearms registry. the sentences did seemed a bit short though. federal/public buildings such as courthouses, library, hospitals, city or county government building, usps, etc should have to provide a secure area for law-abiding citizens to store their firearm when and while there if they want to restrict our right to carry at that place. private businesses should abide… Read more »