Laurance Wilson, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Louisiana 2020

BATON ROUGE, LA – Laurance Wilson, 28, is looking at a decade behind bars after admitting he illegally possessed a high-powered rifle. Wilson pleaded guilty this week to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge stemming from a 2020 incident in Slidell, Louisiana.

The feds say Wilson was exiting a vehicle on April 29, 2020, when gunfire erupted nearby. Before the shooting started, Wilson stashed a Del-Ton Inc. DTI-15 5.56 mm caliber rifle in the trunk. It wasn’t the gun used in the shooting, but it was enough to land Wilson in hot water. He wasn’t supposed to have it in the first place.

Court records show Wilson has a prior conviction for simple robbery in 2014, handed down by the 19th Judicial District of Louisiana. That conviction stripped him of the right to legally own a firearm. The ATF, along with the FBI and Slidell Police Department, investigated the case, piecing together the evidence that led to Wilson’s guilty plea.

Federal prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Shih and Mike Trummel, are now preparing for sentencing. Wilson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a hefty fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release after serving his time. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee will also be tacked onto any fine imposed.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans framed the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),” a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by coordinating law enforcement efforts at all levels. The program emphasizes building trust with communities and focusing on strategic enforcement priorities.

While officials tout PSN as a community safety measure, the reality is Wilson, a repeat offender, will now face the consequences of his actions. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing and provide updates on federal crime happening across the country.

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