BEAUMONT, Texas – A hard-knuckle plea from Lincoln Jerome Watts has landed him a 90-month stretch in federal prison for his part in the Eastern District of Texas’s gun-running saga.
The Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs brought the grim news, with U.S. Attorney John M. Bales at the helm. Watts, 31, from Nacogdoches, found himself guilty on November 19, 2012, of being a felon in possession of a firearm, his crime doled out by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
Back to 2011 when the trouble began. Authorities were dispatched to a disturbance report, only to stumble upon Watts and a loaded pistol nestled in his front pants pocket on Zula Street. Further inquiry unearthed a sordid history, Watts having been flagged for aggravated robbery, possession of a firearm under indictment, stealing another firearm, and burglarizing a federal firearms licensee – all back in 2001.
Despite the ironclad prohibition against felons owning or possessing firearms, Watts found himself facing federal charges once more. His induction into the clink came after an October 3, 2012, indictment by a federal grand jury.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods – a force aiming to quash gun and gang violence, deter illegal arms, and ensure the Eastern District of Texas is as safe as possible. The collaboration was a who’s-who in law enforcement: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Nacogdoches Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte were all on the case.
Watts’ fate underscores the relentless pursuit of justice for those who thumb their noses at federal firearms laws. The grimy streets of Texas will remember this day as a victory against the proliferation of illegal weaponry.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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