SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a pistol and cocaine.
Carlos Tramell Russell, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. According to the guilty plea, Shreveport Police responded to a domestic dispute call on July 8, 2015. Russell was reported to have been seen with a firearm during an incident at a Shreveport residence. Officers then searched Russell’s home and found a Romarm pistol, model Micro Draco, 7.62 by 39 mm and ammunition in his home. They also found three bags of cocaine. Russell had prior felony convictions in 2005 and 2010.
Russell faces up to 10 years in prison for the firearm count and five years to life for the drug count. He also faces up to five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of Sept. 13, 2016 was set.
This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.
The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
