Lafayette, Louisiana – A Louisiana man has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for leading a multi-state scheme involving stolen heavy equipment, altered vehicle identification numbers, and illegal firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Christopher Don Byerley, 45, of Broussard, Louisiana, to 115 months in federal prison. The sentence follows Byerley’s convictions for:
- Conspiracy to transport a stolen motor vehicle
- Altering, removing, and obliterating a vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices
- Possession of an unregistered silencer
- Being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm
After his prison term, Byerley will serve three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $127,000 in restitution to the victims, and ordered the forfeiture of the pistol and suppressor involved in the case.
Multi-State Heavy Equipment Theft Operation
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, federal prosecutors said that between October 2021 and March 2022, Byerley and several co-conspirators carried out a coordinated and complex operation spanning Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas.
The group included:
- Robert Gregory Brazell
- Adrienne Marie King
- Dennis Loyd Sizemore
Investigators determined that the conspiracy focused on stealing and then using or selling stolen and altered vehicles, including:
- Tractors
- Excavators
- Forklifts
- A pickup truck
The total value of the stolen property was over $250,000.
VIN Tampering, Chop Shop, And Fake Business Front
The operation involved several methods designed to hide the origin of the stolen equipment and make it appear legitimate.
Authorities said the conspiracy included:
- Tampering with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs):
VINs are unique codes assigned to each vehicle. By altering or removing them, thieves can disguise the identity of stolen property, making it harder for law enforcement and buyers to trace. - Use of a “chop shop”:
A chop shop is a location where stolen vehicles or equipment are taken apart, rebuilt, or altered so that parts can be sold or the vehicle can be passed off as legitimate. - Fraudulent documentation:
The conspirators used false paperwork to support the sale or use of the stolen equipment. - False business fronts:
Investigators said the group used sham business entities, including a company called Hevyquip L.L.C., to make stolen equipment sales appear lawful and to gain the trust of unsuspecting buyers.
Unauthorized Access Devices And Identity Records
The scheme went beyond stolen equipment.
Law enforcement discovered that the conspiracy involved the unauthorized possession of over 400 identities and access devices. In federal law, “access devices” can include items such as credit cards, account numbers, or other tools that can be used to obtain money, goods, or services.
According to investigators, these records were used to further conceal the group’s criminal activities, adding another layer of fraud to the operation.
Illegal Firearm Purchase And Unregistered Silencer
During the investigation, authorities learned that Byerley was a convicted felon, which made it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
To get around this restriction, prosecutors said Byerley used a third party to illegally purchase a firearm on his behalf. The firearm was later fitted with an unregistered silencer.
Silencers (also known as suppressors) are tightly regulated under federal law. They must be registered, and possessing an unregistered silencer is a federal crime.
Shoplifting Incident Uncovers Larger Criminal Enterprise
The broader conspiracy came to light after what began as a local shoplifting investigation.
In February 2022, detectives with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a shoplifting incident at the Juban Crossing Shopping Center in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. Their investigation led them to a stolen pickup truck being operated by Byerley.
Inside the truck, detectives found:
- An unregistered firearm silencer
- An FN Model 509 9mm pistol and ammunition
- Documentation detailing parts orders for silencers, all in Byerley’s handwriting
- Multiple text messages and photographs suggesting an intent to traffic firearms and evade federal regulations
- Numerous documents, records, emails, text messages, and photos that pointed to a broader criminal conspiracy
Those materials helped law enforcement uncover the full scale of the multi-state theft and fraud operation, connecting the local incident to a much larger federal case.
Wide-Ranging Law Enforcement Investigation
The investigation involved a broad coalition of federal and local agencies working together across multiple parishes and states.
The case was investigated by:
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General
- Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office
- East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office
- Saint Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Saint Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Iberia Sheriff’s Department
- Lafayette Police Department
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton III and M. Patricia Jones. To address the firearm trafficking charges, AUSA Thornton was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana, where he worked with Assistant United States Attorney John Nickel.
Some suspects in this case may not have been convicted at the time this was published, and are considered innocent until proven guilty.