Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon has announced that Christopher Don Byerley, age 45, from Broussard, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to several charges related to a multi-state vehicle theft, firearm trafficking, and identity theft conspiracy. The plea was made before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson.
Byerley's charges include conspiracy related to the transportation of a stolen vehicle, altering or removing vehicle identification numbers, possession of unauthorized access devices, conspiracy to traffic firearms, and possession of an unregistered silencer. His activities, spanning from October 2021 to March 2022, involved co-conspirators in a complex operation that included stolen vehicles and altered identities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. The group is said to have stolen equipment valued over $250,000, using tactics like fraudulent documentation and altering vehicle identification numbers.
The investigation revealed Byerley, a convicted felon, used a third party to illegally purchase a firearm which was later modified with an unregistered silencer. Law enforcement discovered Byerley's involvement following a shoplifting investigation at Juban Crossing Shopping Center in February 2022, where items from a stolen pickup truck he was operating led to further revelations.
Law enforcement's findings included text messages and photographs suggesting firearm trafficking intentions, multiple illegal documents, and a weapon with an unregistered silencer. The officer of Acting U.S. Attorney Leon emphasized the importance of collaboration in dismantling sophisticated criminal enterprises and commended the team's efforts in uncovering the criminal network.
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard praised the investigative work leading from a shoplifting case to a significant multi-state operation. Adam Parks from Homeland Security Investigations highlighted the effective coordination among law enforcement agencies in tackling such sophisticated crimes. Special Agent Joshua Jackson of the ATF stressed the importance of keeping firearms out of criminals' hands.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Social Security Administration, and several local law enforcement agencies in Louisiana. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III, who worked with Assistant United States Attorney John Nickel.
