SHREVEPORT, LA – Denell Linn Lee, 44, of Shreveport, is headed to federal prison for nearly ten years after a traffic stop uncovered a stash of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote handed down the 115-month (8 years, 7 months) sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
The bust went down February 27, 2020, when agents with the Caddo-Shreveport Street Level Interdiction Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) pulled Lee over for driving without a license plate. The smell of marijuana wafted from the vehicle, giving officers probable cause to search. While a small amount of weed was found, the real trouble lay hidden: a .22 caliber revolver, a digital scale, and 565 methamphetamine tablets weighing over 100 grams.
Lee pleaded guilty on September 27, 2022, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The charges weren’t just about the drugs and the gun; Lee’s extensive criminal history played a significant role in the severity of the sentence. Records show prior convictions for simple kidnapping, simple burglary, attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, domestic abuse battery, and domestic abuse with strangulation.
As a convicted felon, Lee was already legally barred from owning any firearms or ammunition. The ATF investigation, combined with the work of the Shreveport Police Department, built a solid case against him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon prosecuted the case, securing the lengthy prison term. The evidence painted a picture of a repeat offender actively involved in the illegal drug trade while illegally armed.
Federal officials are framing Lee’s sentencing as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The initiative focuses on building trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and prioritizing strategic enforcement. This case, they say, exemplifies the program’s goals of making neighborhoods safer.
While the Justice Department touts PSN’s success, the reality on Shreveport’s streets remains grim. Lee’s sentence will remove one player from the local drug scene, but the underlying issues of poverty, addiction, and violence continue to plague the city. The ATF and Shreveport PD will continue to investigate, but whether this case truly impacts the overall crime rate remains to be seen. The New Orleans Field Division of the ATF handled the investigation.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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