Three Felons Appear in Court This Week in Connection with Federal Gun Crimes and Drug Offenses

All cases brought under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

SHREVEPORT, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced the resolution of several cases this week, all of which are separately noted, that were brought pursuant to the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which 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.

Federal Jury Convicts Monroe Man on Firearms and Drug Charges

MONROE – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a federal jury handed down a guilty verdict on November 14, 2019, against a Monroe man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Jmarreon D. Mack, 38, of Monroe, was convicted after a two-day jury trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty.

Evidence presented during trial revealed that an officer with Louisiana State Police initiated a stop of Mack’s vehicle on April 12, 2018, for a traffic violation. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana coming from inside. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper and an officer with the Monroe Police Department found a Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers also found approximately 23.5 grams of marijuana in a bag on the front driver’s seat, a marijuana cigar, a marijuana grinder, and a digital scale. The gun that Mack possessed had been reported stolen.

Jmarreon Mack has prior felony convictions in Ouachita Parish for possession of cocaine (2005 and 2014), attempted distribution of cocaine (2005), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2008).

Mack will be sentenced by Judge Doughty on March 4, 2020, and faces five years to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department, Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office and Rayville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cadesby Cooper and Earl M. Campbell are prosecuting the case.

Shreveport Felon Sentenced for Firearms and Drug Offenses

SHREVEPORT – Demarcus Antonio June, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today, by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, to run consecutively. Judge Foote also sentenced Demarcus June to three years of supervised release following his release from prison.

According to court documents, Shreveport Police officers were patrolling a neighborhood in the Shreveport area when they encountered a female inside a vehicle parked in front of a residence. After learning from the female that she was concerned for the safety of someone inside, the officers made contact with Demarcus June, the owner of the residence. June let them in and officers observed small baggies, a digital scale, and 22 bags of crack cocaine in plain view on the living room coffee table. A search of the bedroom uncovered a Taurus PT111 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 10 rounds, and in the laundry room they found a Glock .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine attached with 39 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.

Demarcus June is a convicted felon and sex offender, having been convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, and countless arrests for possession with intent to distribute, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford prosecuted the case.

Alexandria Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Drug Offenses

ALEXANDRIA – Ronald Louis Hall Jr., 29, of Alexandria, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on November 14, 2019, to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone.

According to the guilty plea, on January 6, 2019, while traveling in Rapides Parish, a Louisiana State trooper initiated a stop of Hall’s vehicle for two traffic violations. As the officer approached the vehicle to make contact with Hall, he encountered the smell of burnt marijuana. Hall admitted to smoking marijuana earlier and consented to a search of his vehicle.  During the search, officers found a 9mm extended magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition in the glove compartment.  Officers later discovered a hidden compartment in the vehicle that held five plastic cellophane bags containing 452 Oxycodone pills.

Hall has prior felony narcotics convictions in Rapides Parish for possession of marijuana second offense (2013) and third offense (2015), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2014).

Hall faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the firearms offense, and up to 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release, and a $2 million fine for the drug charge. Judge Drell set the sentencing date for February 14, 2020.

The FBI Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog is prosecuting the case.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.