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LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of a defendant for illegally possessing firearms. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced him Thursday in United States District Court in Western Louisiana.

Brian W. Chappell, 58, of LaPlace, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of firearms. Chappell was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm without a serial number. Chappell pleaded guilty to the charges October 5, 2022. On September 29, 2021, a tow truck being driven by Chappell was stopped by officers with the Leesville Police Department. A search warrant was obtained and officers with the Leesville and deputies with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office searched Chappell’s vehicle. During their search, officers found several firearms and three firearm suppressors. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) examined the suppressors and found them to be contain the same parts as a silencer.  Chappell admitted to owning the silencers and had not registered them with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Leesville Police Department and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.