Johntrel Joel Lewis, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2023

LAKE CHARLES, LA – Johntrel Joel Lewis, 34, is trading the Louisiana swamps for a federal prison cell after receiving a 78-month sentence (6 years, 6 months) for being a convicted felon illegally packing heat. U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. handed down the sentence today, along with three years of supervised release after Lewis serves his time.

The bust went down August 6, 2022, when Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies spotted Lewis behind the wheel and tried to pull him over. Instead of complying, Lewis floored it, leading deputies on a chase before ditching the vehicle and taking off on foot. They caught up with him quickly, and a search revealed 20.8 grams of crack cocaine stashed in clear bags, along with over $900 in cash.

But the real problem wasn’t the coke. Deputies found a loaded Taurus TH9C 9mm handgun – 11 rounds in the magazine, one in the chamber – abandoned near where Lewis fled. Investigators traced the weapon and determined it originated in Brazil, meaning it had crossed state lines and fell under federal jurisdiction. It was a ghost gun with a history.

Lewis’s past is what sealed his fate. He’d already been convicted in 2018 of illegally carrying a weapon while in the presence of narcotics. That prior conviction made possessing any firearm or ammunition a federal offense. He knew the rules, and broke them anyway. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the lead on the investigation, with assistance from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. This wasn’t just about a gun; it was about a repeat offender flouting the law and endangering the community. The government is framing this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts.

Lewis’s time on the streets is over, at least for the next six and a half years. This case serves as a stark warning: felons caught with firearms will face serious federal consequences, and the ATF will be there to investigate. The streets of Lake Charles are a little less armed today, but the fight against illegal guns continues.

Related Federal Cases