Joseph Chad Castillo, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Louisiana 2024

CONVERSE, LA – Joseph Chad Castillo, 36, is headed to federal prison after a botched attempt to evade law enforcement led to the discovery of illegally possessed firearms. U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter sentenced Castillo to 30 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms.

The bust went down December 26, 2022, when a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy tried to serve an arrest warrant at a Converse residence. As the deputy arrived, a vehicle pulled into the driveway, and Castillo, identified as a rear-seat passenger, bolted into the woods. A brief chase ensued, and officers searched the vehicle, uncovering a Remington Model 1100 shotgun and a Remington Model 7600 rifle. Adding to the severity of the crime, the serial number on the rifle had been deliberately obliterated, and investigators later determined it had been stolen from a private residence.

This wasn’t Castillo’s first run-in with the law. Court records show he’s a repeat offender, with prior felony convictions for attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018, also in Sabine Parish, and for possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances in Desoto Parish in 2017. Despite knowing he was legally prohibited from owning firearms due to his criminal history, Castillo continued to illegally possess the weapons.

Castillo entered a guilty plea on August 16, 2023, facing the music for his actions. The case was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg handling the prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown highlighted that this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The program emphasizes community partnerships to create safer neighborhoods.

The Justice Department, under PSN, is renewing its focus on targeting violent criminals. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that possessing firearms while prohibited by federal law will result in serious consequences. Information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at www.justice.gov/psn.

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