Mark Anthony Crawford, Loaded Firearm Possession, LA 2024

A Shreveport man is facing federal prison after admitting he possessed a loaded pistol in a house packed with narcotics and weapons. Mark Anthony Crawford, 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to illegally possessing a Romarm/Cugir Mini Draco 7.62 caliber pistol, loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition.

The arrest stemmed from an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers that Crawford was holed up at a residence on Algonquin Trail, armed and dealing drugs. When Shreveport police raided the location, they found the firearm hidden under a bed. Crawford didn’t wait to be questioned—he immediately admitted to cops that he bought the gun on the street and knew he wasn’t allowed to have it.

He’s a convicted felon. On November 8, 2010, Crawford pleaded guilty to aggravated flight from an officer—a conviction that automatically bars him under federal law from owning or carrying any firearm or ammunition. Despite that, he chose to arm himself with a high-capacity, military-style pistol.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the Shreveport Police Department in investigating the case. The weapon tied to Crawford has been linked to a surge in violent crime patterns the feds are trying to stamp out through targeted enforcement.

Crawford now faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2019. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is leading the prosecution.

The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department’s flagship initiative to dismantle violent crime networks. PSN focuses on locking up repeat and armed offenders while funneling resources into community prevention and reentry programs—aimed at stopping the cycle before it starts.