Lake Charles Man Sentenced for Possessing Sawed-Off Shotgun, Drugs
A Lake Charles man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun and drugs. Mark Washington, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James on one count of possession of a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Washington was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to his guilty plea, members of the Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce responded to a report of drug activity at a home on April 18, 2017, on Hinton Drive in Lake Charles.
Upon arriving at the scene, agents found Washington standing in the driveway of the residence near two men who were inside a car. Agents searched the residence and found one Sigarms Model 250 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing 12 live rounds; one Glock Model 36, .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol containing a magazine with four live rounds; one sawed-off Stevens Model 940E, .410-gauge break-action shotgun; and one sawed-off 20-gauge break-action shotgun of unknown make and model.
They also found loose synthetic marijuana on the television stand in the living room, and they located 936 pills, two pink plastic bags of synthetic marijuana, a cigarette pack containing a glass vile with drug residue, a cellophane baggie with five ecstasy pills and $1,145. Washington admitted to being a convicted felon and that he was not allowed to be around firearms.
Washington said he lived at the residence and had bought the guns on the street. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The ATF and Calcasieu Parish Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.
The 10-year sentence is a significant blow to Washington’s plans, and it serves as a warning to others who would engage in similar activities. As the nation continues to grapple with the issue of violent crime, it is cases like this that demonstrate the effectiveness of programs like PSN.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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