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Three Defendants from Louisiana Sentenced to 30+ Years Combined on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

Louisiana. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced on April 19, 2022, in U.S. District Court that three defendants from Louisiana were sentenced for drug trafficking and firearms violations. Their sentences totaled more than 30 years in prison.

Christopher Antrell Bernard, 43, of Shreveport, Louisiana was sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 262 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, Bernard was found guilty of violating his probation and was sentenced to an additional 37 months in prison. Bernard’s total sentence today was 299 months (24 years, 11 months) in prison.

On May 6, 2020, officers with the Shreveport Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Bernard’s vehicle, in which he was the sole occupant. Officers noticed a handgun in plain view between the console and the driver’s seat as he exited the vehicle. Officers searched Bernard’s vehicle and discovered 76 grams of marijuana in individual baggies as well as a scale. The firearm in plain sight was discovered to be a loaded 9mm pistol. Bernard was on supervised release at the time of his arrest, having received an Executive Grant of Clemency signed by President Barack Obama on January 19, 2017, commuting his sentence.

Bernard was previously sentenced in federal court on March 31, 2009 to 240 months in prison for distribution of cocaine.

The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody.

In a separate case, Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Bennie Sylvester Epps, 32, of Zwolle, Louisiana, to 66 months in prison (5 years and 6 months) followed by 5 years of supervised release. On December 14, 2021, Epps pleaded guilty to one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

On July 21, 2020, agents from the Sabine Parish Tactical Narcotics Team pulled over a vehicle with a shattered windshield. When the vehicle came to a halt, the driver exited and fled the scene, and agents were unable to locate him. Moments later, an individual later identified as Epps exited the same vehicle carrying a black duffel bag and fled. During the chase, Epps threw the bag as he ran, but he was quickly apprehended. The duffel bag was discovered to be full of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. A loaded handgun was also discovered near the bag by agents.

The case was investigated by the ATF and Sabine Parish Tactical Narcotics Team and prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown.

In another case, US District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Nicholas J. Bryant, 21, of Shreveport, Louisiana to 46 months in prison (3 years and 10 months), followed by two years of supervised release. Bryant pled guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm on January 19, 2022.

Following a shooting on July 4, 2021, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives, and Firearms (ATF) Task Force located Bryant and read him his Miranda warnings. When questioned after his arrest, Bryant admitted to agents that he had a gun in his car. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered a 9mm pistol with a 25-round extended magazine. Bryant was previously convicted of domestic abuse battery in Caddo Parish, Louisiana’s First Judicial District Court in 2021. Bryant was barred from owning a firearm or ammunition as a result of this conviction.

The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody.

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