DEMARCO JONES, age 23 of Tickfaw, and WILLIE WALKER, age 22 of Hammond, pled guilty yesterday to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
JONES and WALKER pled guilty to theft of firearms in connection with the Jan. 31, 2017 burglary of the Tickfaw Auction Company (a federal firearms licensee), during which 57 handguns were stolen. Additionally, WALKER admitted to possession of stolen firearms and JONES tendered a guilty plea to possession of firearms by a felon.
Each offense carries an identical maximum sentence: 10 years imprisonment, and/or a fine not to exceed $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment fee. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2018.
U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Hammond Police Department, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. McMahon.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
