Thaddaeus W. Paul, 33, of Lafayette, was sentenced on July 29 by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., to 96 months in federal prison after his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to an Aug. 3 announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.
Court documents state that officers with the Lafayette Police Department conducted a lawful traffic stop on January 23, 2025. Paul was found as a passenger in the backseat and in possession of a satchel bag containing a loaded semiautomatic SCCY CPX‑2 9mm pistol, crack cocaine and marijuana. He admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm and ammunition after having been convicted previously of a felony offense punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement regarding Paul’s sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Lafayette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey N. Stelly, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Stewart and Tanya Broussard.
This prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), described as an initiative using resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime through coordination with state and local law enforcement as well as Project Safe Neighborhoods.