Eric Marquelle Coleman, Illegal Firearm Possession, Louisiana 2023

MONROE, La. – Eric Marquelle Coleman, 49, of Winnsboro, Louisiana, is headed back to federal prison after receiving a stiff 96-month (8 years) sentence for illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty handed down the sentence today, adding another three years of supervised release to Coleman’s already extensive record.

The bust originated not with a gun investigation, but a probe into methamphetamine trafficking in the West Monroe area last July. DEA agents and the Monroe Metro Narcotics Unit were conducting surveillance when a Ford F-150 – driven by Coleman – hit a location, picked up something, and immediately peeled out. A routine traffic stop quickly escalated when a K9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the truck turned up more than just drugs: a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol.

Coleman wasn’t just any gun owner. He’s a repeat offender with a federal felony conviction already on his record. Back in March 2015, he was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for attempting to distribute controlled substances. He was already on supervised release when he was caught with the Hellcat, making this latest offense a clear violation of federal law – and a direct threat to public safety. As a convicted felon, possessing any firearm or ammunition is strictly prohibited.

The evidence presented in court painted a picture of a man unwilling to stay on the right side of the law. While the initial focus was on drug trafficking, the discovery of the firearm broadened the scope of the case, emphasizing the dangerous intersection of drug activity and illegal weapons. Federal prosecutors successfully argued that Coleman’s actions warranted a significant prison term.

The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the DEA, ATF, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Weber led the prosecution, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. This case highlights the continued collaboration between federal and local law enforcement to target individuals who pose a risk to the community.

Coleman pleaded guilty to the indictment on March 16, 2023. He’ll now have plenty of time to reflect on his choices behind bars. The 96-month sentence sends a clear message: possessing a firearm while a convicted felon carries serious consequences, especially when combined with involvement in illegal drug activity. The New Orleans Field Division of the ATF played a key role in the investigation.

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