Joseph Chad Castillo, Felon in Possession of Firearms, Louisiana 2023

SHREVEPORT, La. – Joseph Chad Castillo, 36, of Converse, Louisiana, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms.

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing, which was handed down by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter.

The case began on December 26, 2022, when a deputy with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a residence in Converse. While the deputy was at the residence, a vehicle drove down the driveway and stopped, and the rear seat passenger, later determined to be Castillo, fled into the woods.

After a brief pursuit, law enforcement officers stopped and searched the vehicle and found a Remington Model 1100 shotgun and a Remington Model 7600 rifle, as well as Castillo’s cell phone in the backseat. The rifle had an obliterated serial number and Castillo had previously stolen it from a private residence.

Castillo has two prior felony convictions, one for attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, and another for possession of Schedule II CDS in Desoto Parish in 2017. He knew of his felony convictions and that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Castillo pleaded guilty to the charge on August 16, 2023.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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