MONROE, La. – In a shocking case of gun violence, two Winnfield men were sentenced to prison time for possessing stolen firearms.
Ashton L. Howard, 33, and Aaron Thomas, 27, both of Winnfield, La., were handed down severe sentences by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James. Howard received a 27-month prison sentence, while Thomas was sentenced to a harsh 96 months behind bars.
The charges against the duo stem from a guilty plea entered on June 15, 2016. According to the plea, Howard and Thomas received and possessed 14 firearms, ammunition, and other items stolen from a Winnfield firearm seller on March 22, 2015. The stolen goods included eight rifles, five shotguns, a revolver, ammunition, firearms parts, knives, and other items.
In a disturbing twist, it was revealed that Howard drove four juveniles to a store where they burglarized it. They took and loaded the stolen items into Howard’s van, which they then took to Howard and Thomas’ house. Police found some of the firearms hidden under the house and other firearms at the house of one of the juveniles.
The investigation and prosecution of this case are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a initiative aimed at promoting firearm safety and reducing firearm crimes. The ATF and the Winnfield Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuting the case.
The sentencing of Howard and Thomas serves as a warning to those who engage in gun-related crimes. As the community continues to grapple with the effects of gun violence, it is essential that those responsible are held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Reynaldo Bran Fonseca, Illegal Reentry and Firearms Possession, California 2017 · Louisiana
- Walter Oliver, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2019 · Louisiana
- Stephone Bridges, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, Louisiana 2021 · Louisiana
- Darnell Melton, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2024 · Louisiana
- Darnell Melton, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2024 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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