Two Louisiana Felons from the Lake Charles Area Sentenced on Firearms Charges

Lake Charles, Louisiana - On November 3, 2022, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two cases in the Lake Charles Division of the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the following two defendants:

Johnathan Wade Thierry, 49, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 20, 2021, law enforcement investigators from the Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Combined Anti-Drug Task Force were conducting home surveillance to serve active arrest warrants for Thierry. Officers noticed Thierry leaving his home and performed a traffic stop, arresting him for the outstanding warrants. He agreed to a vehicle search but refused to allow them to search his home. Officers executed a search warrant at Thierry's home and discovered a loaded Guardian .25 caliber pistol as well as a box of.25 caliber ammunition. Thierry was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because he was a convicted felon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, and Louisiana State Police investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.

For being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, Robert Edward Wright, 68, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. This accusation stems from an event on August 6, 2020, in which Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call. Deputies arrived on the scene to find Wright shoving a female and grabbing her throat with both hands. Deputies discovered two loaded firearms, a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun, and a Remington 770 rifle, while at the residence. Wright's girlfriend revealed to officers that she obtained the firearms at Wright's request because he knew he couldn't buy or have any in his possession as a convicted felon. Wright has past felony convictions for aggravated burglary in Louisiana and DWI in Texas, both of which preclude him from carrying firearms or ammunition.

The ATF and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.