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Two From Southwest Louisiana Sentenced to Prison on Firearms Charges

Louisiana. – Two men from Southwest Louisiana were sentenced today in the U.S. District Court, on firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the two individuals as follows:

Nathan Allen Boutte, 32, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, received a 60-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Officers with the Lake Charles Police Department received a complaint on June 27, 2020, that an individual had exited a vehicle carrying a firearm and approached the complainant’s apartment carrying the weapon. Officers arrived on the scene and determined the subject to be Boutte. Officers noticed the odor of PCP emitting from his person and observed his speech was slurred, he appeared incoherent, and he appeared confused as he sat in front of the apartment.

Officers discovered an AR-style rifle nearby that had been modified by having the barrel cut down and made shorter. Officers apprehended Boutte after learning of his prior felony convictions. Officers questioned Boutte about the incident after about eight hours had passed and he was sober and coherent. He admitted to having the firearm despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so. Boutte has a history of felony convictions for drug possession and simple criminal damage to property.

The ATF and the Lake Charles Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.

Nicholas Ryan, 37, of Sulphur, Louisiana, received a 46-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for several traffic violations on July 7, 2020. The vehicle refused to stop, and the deputy observed an object being thrown from the passenger side of the vehicle during the subsequent pursuit. Ryan was identified as the driver after the vehicle was eventually stopped. While the deputy searched the area where the object was thrown from the vehicle, Ryan and a passenger in the vehicle were detained.

When the deputy discovered a Glock 9mm pistol in the area, Ryan admitted that it was his and that he had thrown it from the vehicle. Ryan has a prior felony conviction for aggravated second degree battery (2011), which bars him from owning a firearm or ammunition.

The ATF and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon.

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