Seven-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Nacorvrick S. Green, 40, of Lafayette, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 2, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

On June 13, 2018, Lafayette Police Department officers conducted a stop on Green’s vehicle for a traffic violation and found a Ruger .380 semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of ammunition. Green has seven prior felony convictions in the 15th Judicial District Court, Lafayette Parish, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2001 and 2008), three counts of distribution of cocaine (2001), attempted possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance - Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabional (2008), and possession of marijuana, second offense (2013).

At sentencing Nacorvrick Green faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Drell set the sentencing date for March 19, 2020.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Vermaelen and Jamilla A. Bynog are prosecuting the case.

Two Bunkie Men Sentenced for Trafficking Heroin; One Defendant Receives Additional Prison Time for Firearms Violation

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Joel Shaun Michael Gaines, 32, of Bunkie, Louisiana, was sentenced December 2, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to 12 years, 7 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Gaines pleaded guilty on August 8, 2019.

In January of 2018, various law enforcement agencies participated in an investigation into heroin distribution in Central Louisiana, which identified Gaines as a source of heroin who distributed the drug to members of his drug trafficking organization. Gaines distributed heroin to multiple people in Central Louisiana from various locations utilizing stash houses and members of his organization to distribute heroin on his behalf. In May and July of 2018, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases from Gaines and later intercepted communications that showed Gaines was distributing heroin and directing Roosevelt Dewayne Larcarte, 19, also of Bunkie, to distribute heroin for him. For each transaction, Larcarte received instructions from Gaines as to how much heroin a customer wanted to purchase. Based on information obtained through the intercepted communications, agents executed court-authorized search warrants at three locations and found multiple firearms, ammunition, heroin, a digital scale, and $6,123 in U.S. currency. Both Gaines and Larcarte are responsible for approximately 40 grams of heroin.

On September 17, 2018, law enforcement stopped Gaines’ vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered he was in possession of a Ruger .380 pistol with a magazine containing five bullets. Gaines was previously convicted in February of 2012 for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.

Roosevelt Larcarte pleaded guilty on August 22, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin. He was sentenced on November 22, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to two years in prison and three years of supervised release following his prison confinement.

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms During the Filming of a Rap Video

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Xavier Briggs, 27, of Shreveport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter to felon in possession of firearms.

On April 25, 2019, officers with the Shreveport Police Department responded to AB Palmer Park in Shreveport where a large crowd was filming a rap video with numerous firearms. Officers encountered 10 individuals standing around a Chevrolet Malibu and recovered multiple firearms from the scene. A camera being used to shoot the video was also seized and a search warrant was obtained to view its contents. Briggs can be seen in the video recordings in possession of a Jiminez Arms Model JA Nine 9mm pistol loaded with 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a loaded DPMS Model A15, 5.56 mm rifle containing two 30-round magazines, and 41 rounds of 5.56 ammo.

Briggs has a 2011 armed robbery felony conviction in Caddo District Court and was released from prison in December 2018.

At sentencing Xavier Briggs faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Walter set the sentencing date for March 24, 2020.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.

Monroe Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Stanley Charleston, 55, of Monroe, was sentenced December 3, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Charleston pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2019.

According to court documents, on August 17, 2017, officers of the Monroe Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at Charleston’s home and found a Ruger, Model SR9, 9 mm pistol. The pistol was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition. Charleston is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty on December 8, 2005 to unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cadesby B. Cooper is prosecuted the case.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess firearms or ammunition.

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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