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LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two men from the south Louisiana area were sentenced today by Chief United States Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for their illegal involvement with firearms.

Lance Lawtell Granger, 49, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 56 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On November 18, 2020, law enforcement officers with the Lafayette Police Department executed a search warrant at Granger’s residence and, while searching his bedroom, located a backpack containing a firearm and ammunition. Granger admitted to officers that the firearm and ammunition belonged to him and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition because he was a convicted felon. His prior felony convictions are for possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2009, along with possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids and attempted possession of firearm by a convicted felon in 2018.

This case was investigated by the ATF and Lafayette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker.

Cristian Eli Alvarez-Alvarez, 25, who was found to be living illegal in the United States, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. On February 3, 2021, officers with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots being fired at a residence in Duson, Louisiana. During their investigation of these events, law enforcement agents learned that Alvarez-Alvarez was in possession of a firearm and that he was also a citizen of Honduras who was living illegally in the United States. Alvarez-Alvarez was charged in an indictment with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and pleaded guilty to the charge on May 4, 2021.

This case was investigated by agents with the ATF, Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel prosecuted the case.