United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four men have been sentenced for their involvement in the theft of 32 firearms from a gun dealer in Maurice, Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the defendants.
Damien Damon Briggs, 28, of Kaplan, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Tawaski Tavon Lewis, 32, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
Travon Travel Citizen, 18, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The fourth defendant, in this case, Dante Citizen, 23, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 2, 2022, to 14 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release.
Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee. All four of the men admitted to their involvement in stealing 32 firearms from the premises of Swampland Trading Co., a licensed firearms dealer located in Maurice, Louisiana, on September 7, 2021. All 32 firearms were in the licensee’s business inventory.
“This is a great example of cooperation between federal and state law enforcement agencies” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Because of their synergy and cohesion, all 32 firearms were recovered the same night they were stolen, and Swampland Trading Co. was able to properly sell the firearms to customers who had a legal right to purchase them.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.