BATON ROUGE, LA – Another piece of the puzzle fell into place today in the case of a brazen string of gun store burglaries that rattled the Baton Rouge area in 2015. O’NEAL THOMPSON, age 21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, admitted guilt yesterday to a litany of federal charges, bringing him one step closer to facing justice for his role in arming criminals and endangering the public.
Thompson pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick to conspiring to steal firearms, possessing and selling stolen firearms, and illegally receiving and possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers. The charges stem from a coordinated scheme targeting local gun stores, including Hebert Guns in Prairieville and Meaux Guns in Baton Rouge. He will be sentenced at a later date, but the weight of the evidence suggests a lengthy stay in federal prison is likely.
According to court documents, Thompson, along with co-conspirators CHARLES K. EVANS and GENO EUGENE LYONS, first attempted a break-in at Hebert Guns in July of 2015. Failing there, they moved on to Meaux Guns, where they successfully forced entry and absconded with approximately forty-three (43) firearms – a terrifying haul that included pistols, rifles, machineguns, and silencers. The trio then divided the stolen weaponry, with Thompson personally profiting by selling his share on the black market.
This isn’t a standalone case. Both Evans and Lyons have already pled guilty to their involvement in the Hebert Guns attempt, the Meaux Guns burglary, and a third break-in at Bowie Outfitters in Baton Rouge in June of 2015. The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has systematically dismantled this criminal enterprise, stripping them of their ill-gotten gains and preparing them for accountability.
Acting U.S. Attorney Corey R. Amundson didn’t mince words, stating: “Prosecuting offenders who violate the federal gun laws is a top priority for this office and the U.S. Department of Justice generally. Stolen guns and armed felons fuel the violent crime plaguing our communities and threaten our safety and security.” He rightly lauded the collaborative effort of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in bringing these criminals to justice.
The ATF investigation received substantial assistance from the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Crosswell and Peter Smyczek are prosecuting the case. This conviction serves as a stark warning: those who choose to traffic in illegal firearms and endanger public safety will face the full force of the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches and provide updates on further developments.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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