A convicted felon from Opelousas is headed to federal prison after being caught with a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Willie Jamal Reynolds, 28, was sentenced Thursday to 57 months behind bars for illegally possessing a firearm — a crime he wasn’t allowed to commit under federal law due to a prior felony conviction.
Reynolds, of Opelousas, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on September 15, 2017, to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote handed down the sentence and tacked on an additional three years of supervised release once Reynolds completes his prison term. The arrest stemmed from a June 3, 2017, police stop that quickly turned up the illegal weapon.
But the gun wasn’t the only piece of damning evidence. Investigators later uncovered a 15-minute video uploaded online showing Reynolds flanked by a friend, both surrounded by multiple firearms. The footage, raw and unfiltered, painted a clear picture of disregard for the law — especially given Reynolds’ criminal history. He was convicted of a felony back in September 2013, which immediately disqualified him from legally handling or owning any firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti and investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Opelousas Police Department. The collaboration highlights the ongoing push to target repeat offenders and illegal gun possession in high-crime areas across Acadiana.
This prosecution was brought under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative resurrected in October 2017 under then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The program directs U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide to team up with local agencies to crush violent crime using intelligence-driven enforcement and stiff penalties for gun crimes.
U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook emphasized that felons with guns are a top target for federal prosecutors. “This sentence sends a message,” Van Hook said. “If you’re a convicted felon and you pick up a firearm, you will end up in federal prison. We’re watching, and we’re coming after you.”
Related Federal Cases
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- Shreveport Felon Jelantis Chatman Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · Louisiana
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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