United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Raul Burden, a 27-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 60 months in federal prison following his conviction of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.  The Court further sentenced Burden to 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on December 24, 2018, EMS dispatchers received three 911 calls reporting shots being fired outside of an apartment complex located on Manson Drive in Baton Rouge.  East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene.  Upon arrival, deputies identified Burden from the emergency calls and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets and place them on his head.  Burden did not comply.  When deputies again ordered Burden to remove his hands, he threw the firearm away from himself.  The firearm, a Charter Arms “Off Duty” .38 special caliber revolver, was recovered at the scene. 

Prior to possessing the firearm, Burden was convicted of intimidating, impeding, or injuring witnesses in May 2009, in East Baton Rouge Parish and attempted introduction of contraband at a municipal or parish prison or jail in October 2015, in Ouachita Parish.

U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “This office remains committed to upholding the rule of law by investigating and prosecuting convicted felons, such as this defendant, who illegally possess firearms.  I want to commend the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Officers whose rapid response to an unsafe situation resulted in a dangerous criminal being disarmed.  I also want to thank my prosecutor, as well as the ATF, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office for their work in this case. Notably, I would like to recognize the members of the community who had the courage to dial 911 and report the incident which allowed first responders to quickly respond and make a lawful arrest.”

“This individual disregarded both the law and the safety of others,” stated ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn.  “The sentence imposed today sends a strong message to criminals that they will be held accountable for their actions.”

“The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with all of our local, state and federal counterparts to get dangerous criminals with weapons off the streets of our community,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said. “We are grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to prosecute these cases on the federal level to ensure the continued safety of our community.”

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Craig.

United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that RAUL BURDEN, a 27-year old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  As a result of his conviction, BURDEN now faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison, significant fines and a period of supervised release.

In a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Brian Jackson on May 28, 2019, BURDEN pled guilty to possessing a Charter Arms “Off Duty” .38 special caliber revolver.  BURDEN had previously been convicted of three felony offenses, including intimidating, impeding or injuring witnesses in 2009 and simple robbery in 2011 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

On December 24, 2018, EMS dispatchers received three 911 calls reporting shots being fired outside of an apartment complex located on Manson Drive in Baton Rouge.  East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene.  Upon arrival, deputies identified BURDEN from the emergency calls and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets and place them on his head.  BURDEN did not comply.  When deputies again ordered BURDEN to remove his hands, he threw the firearm away from himself.  The firearm was recovered at the scene.  

U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “I want to commend those law enforcement officers who responded to a 911 call involving shots being fired.  This case highlights yet another example of the danger faced by law enforcement and the uncertainty that comes with every dispatch.  Their brave and rapid intervention prevented a potentially dangerous outcome and led to the conviction of a violent felon who was illegally possessing a firearm.  I want to thank our prosecutors and our federal and local partners for their outstanding work in obtaining this conviction.”

“ATF, along with our local law enforcement partners, will continue to focus our efforts on removing armed violent criminals from our streets,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Kristen deTineo.  “ATF and our partners remain committed to ensuring that our communities are safer and more secure as a direct result of our investigations."

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Craig.