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LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two cases in the Lake Charles Division of the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the following two defendants today:

Johnathan Wade Thierry, 49, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 20, 2021, law enforcement officers with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force team in Lake Charles, Louisiana, were conducting home surveillance to execute active arrest warrants for Thierry.  Officers observed Thierry depart from his residence and they initiated a traffic stop, taking him into custody for the outstanding warrants. He consented to a search of his vehicle but would not give consent for them to search his residence. A search warrant was obtained for search of Thierry’s residence and upon execution, officers recovered a loaded Guardian .25 caliber pistol, as well as a box of .25 caliber ammunition.  Because he was a convicted felon, it was illegal for Thierry to have a firearm or ammunition in his possession.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.

Robert Edward Wright, 68, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. This charge stems from an incident that occurred on August 6, 2020 when deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence call. When deputies arrived on the scene, they learned that Wright had shoved a female and grabbed her by the throat with both hands. While at the residence, deputies found two loaded firearms in the residence, a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun and a Remington 770 rifle. Wright’s girlfriend admitted to deputies that she had purchased the firearms at the direction of Wright because he knew as a convicted felon he could not purchase one or have any in his possession. Wright has prior felony convictions for aggravated burglary in Louisiana and DWI in Texas prohibiting him from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

The case was investigated by the ATF and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.