LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a revolver and bullets after being convicted of a felony.
Shawn D’Anthony Brown, 20, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol B. Whitehurst to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi. According to the guilty plea, Lafayette police stopped a black four-door vehicle not using headlights on September 27, 2015 on Celeste Street. Brown was searched, and a loaded .32 caliber revolver spray-painted gold was found in his front right pocket. At the time of the offense, Brown had two previous felony convictions.
Brown faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of the seized items and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of February 23, 2017 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 and Lafayette Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case.