Louisiana Felon Sentenced to 9 Years for Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Other Drug and Firearms Charges

Lafayette, Louisiana – Ezekiel Anderson, IV, 30, of Franklin, Louisiana, has been sentenced on firearms and drug charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown on November 9, 2022. Anderson was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. of Franklin, Louisiana, to 112 months (9 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On April 27, 2022, Anderson pled guilty to possessing a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to testimony produced in court, on April 30, 2021, investigators from the Chitimacha Tribal Police Department contacted Anderson in the parking lot of the Cypress Bayou Casino. Investigators detected the stench of marijuana coming from Anderson’s vehicle, as well as on his breath and person, during their interaction with him. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant and searched Anderson’s vehicle, discovering a black bag on the front passenger seat containing a loaded Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a baggie containing suspected methamphetamine, as well as other suspected narcotics and items used in the distribution of narcotics. Anderson was found with roughly 8.4 grams of methamphetamine, 105 grams of marijuana, 47 Alprazolam tablets, and 2 methamphetamine tablets, according to the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory.

The recovered firearm and ammunition were examined by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). In addition, Anderson has a long criminal history, including convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (2012), possession of cocaine (2015), attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2017), simple escape (2017), simple kidnapping, simple burglary, and possession of methamphetamine (2018).

The ATF, Chitimacha Tribal Police Department, and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker.