Lou Arrington Welch, Federal Firearms Violation, Texas 2021
Port Arthur Man Charged with Federal Firearms Violation After Shooting Dog
A 32-year-old man from Port Arthur, Texas, has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today. Lou Arrington Welch pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.
Welch, a convicted felon with a history of cruelty, is not supposed to own or possess firearms or ammunition. Despite this, he shot a dog on Dec. 29, 2020, and admitted to officers that he had done so. The dog survived its injuries.
The case began when Port Arthur Police responded to a call reporting gunshots and the shooting of a dog. Officers discovered the wounded dog and learned from the dog's owner that Welch had previously threatened to shoot the dog. When officers attempted to flag Welch down, he accelerated and led them on a chase before being stopped and arrested.
Police recovered a pistol from Welch's car, and further investigation revealed that he had been convicted of felony drug violations in Jefferson County. As such, Welch is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
Welch was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 3, 2021. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
Defendant: Lou Arrington Welch
Criminal Charge: Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person
City and State: Port Arthur, Texas
Date: Dec. 29, 2020, and Feb. 3, 2021
Sentence: Up to 10 years in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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