MONROE, La. — The grim halls of justice were once again echoed with a verdict of severity as Tristan Barber, 21, from Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to serve a staggering 180-month sentence for illegally possessing a machine gun on the Grambling State University campus. The judge’s gavel dropped heavy as Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty imposed a concurrent sentence of 120 months for Barber’s possession of the firearm by a convicted felon, followed by three years of supervised release.
The grim details of Barber’s crime came to light on April 16, 2024, when authorities found him in possession of a Glock model handgun within the confines of a student dormitory. The weapon was not just any gun—it was loaded, equipped with an extended magazine, and fitted with a machine gun conversion (MCD) device. MCDs are devices that transform semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, capable of rapidly firing rounds by a single trigger pull. For Barber, as a convicted felon, the possession of any firearm was illegal—a fact he ignored.
The investigation took a chilling turn when it was discovered that the machine gun Barber possessed had been linked to shell casings found at the scene of a shooting in Monroe just three weeks prior on March 29, 2024. The evidence was clear, and the justice system delivered its verdict with no mercy.
Barber’s sentence is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegal firearms on college campuses, and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to keep these weapons off our streets. The ATF, Monroe Police Department, and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office played pivotal roles in the investigation that led to Barber’s conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Semmes of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, along with Trial Attorney Christopher Usher of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, prosecuted the case with tenacity.
This sentencing is a testament to the justice system’s ability to mete out severe consequences for those who flout the law and threaten public safety. Barber’s sentence will be served in federal prison, where he will have no choice but to face the reality of his actions and their impact on others.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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