SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Matthew Matthews, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced September 24 by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter, to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Matthews pleaded guilty on April 25, 2019.
On Feb. 17, 2018, Shreveport police officers responded to a call of an armed individual who had pointed a handgun at an employee in a McDonald’s drive-through window. Police later located a vehicle matching the description of the one in the drive-through and attempted to make contact when the vehicle sped away. After the vehicle came to a stop, Matthews exited and was placed in a police unit while the officers questioned the passenger. The passenger told police that Matthews pointed the gun at the employee and that the gun was in the center console of the vehicle. The passenger also gave the police 6.4 grams of marijuana and 3.1 grams of crack cocaine, which she said Matthews told her to hide. When the officers searched the vehicle, they found a Smith and Wesson, Model SW40VE,.40-caliber pistol and 15 rounds in the center console.
Matthews is a felon who was convicted in Caddo Parish on Oct. 12, 2012, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and on Dec. 12, 2016, for illegal possession of stolen things. Under federal law, those convicted of felonies are not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
