Douglas D. Chenevert III, Gun Possession, Louisiana 2019

A Baton Rouge man has been convicted of illegally possessing five firearms and ammunition in federal court.

Douglas D. Chenevert III, a 40-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was convicted of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. He now faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison, significant fines and a period of supervised release.

Chenevert had previously been convicted of simple burglary in 1998 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The charges against Chenevert stem from a burglary at a cell phone shop on North Foster Drive on July 14, 2018. Baton Rouge City Police responded to the burglary and attempted a traffic stop after observing two men enter the shop.

Chenevert, the driver of the pickup truck, fled and was eventually apprehended by a canine officer and his dog. The officers found a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol in Chenevert's clothing, loaded with 13 rounds of Winchester ammunition.

A search of a residence located on East Brookstown, which Chenevert used as a rental property, uncovered the additional four firearms. Chenevert admitted that he knowingly had constructive possession of the firearms and had the power to exercise dominion and control over the firearms stored in the residence.

'Unfortunately, guns are possessed and used unlawfully during the commission of other crimes,' said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin. 'This case is yet another example of the dangers our local law enforcement officers face when they confront felons in possession of a firearm.'

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baton Rouge City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III is prosecuting the case.

Chenevert pleaded guilty to possessing a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, 13 9mm caliber Winchester cartridges, an Ithaca 12 gauge shotgun, a Berretta ARX Model 160 0.22 caliber rifle, a Ruger Model AR556 0.223 caliber rifle, and a Taurus Judge 0.410 gauge/0.45 Long Colt Caliber pistol.

The defendant's conviction is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baton Rouge City Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdla/pr/baton-rouge-man-convicted-federal-court-illegally-possessing-five-firearms-and