Lawrence Anthony, Railroad Car Burglary, Tennessee 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Lawrence Anthony, 35, of Memphis, is headed to federal prison for five years after pleading guilty to a string of offenses including aiding and abetting a railroad car burglary and possessing an illegal machine gun. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. handed down the 66-month sentence on November 30th, followed by three years of supervised release. There’s no parole in the federal system, meaning Anthony will serve the full term.

The trouble began on March 4, 2022, when CSX Transportation agents caught Anthony and others in the act of breaking into railroad cars loaded with retail merchandise bound for California. Agents apprehended Anthony, who was also packing a Glock .40 caliber pistol. The weapon wasn’t just a handgun; it had been illegally modified with a switch, transforming it into a fully automatic machine gun. The crew scattered, making off with over $7,500 worth of stolen goods.

But Anthony’s crime spree didn’t end there. Just months later, on August 18, 2022, Memphis Police responded to a tip about illegal liquor sales at a local residence. Inside, they found Anthony and a stash of stolen booze – the result of a recent business burglary. A search of the property also turned up a Taurus 9mm pistol, which Anthony readily admitted was his.

Anthony ultimately pleaded guilty to a four-count indictment on July 20th, covering both the railroad burglary and the firearms charges stemming from his arrests in March and August. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee highlighted Anthony’s lengthy criminal record, which includes prior convictions for robbery, theft, and burglary, painting him as a repeat offender.

The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Memphis Police Department, with crucial support from CSX Transportation. U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Thompson for her work on the case, as well as the dedication of all involved law enforcement agencies in bringing Anthony to justice.

This case serves as a stark reminder that federal authorities are actively prosecuting individuals involved in both interstate theft and illegal firearms trafficking. The combination of charges, and the resulting five-year sentence, send a clear message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated in the Western District of Tennessee.

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