Rico D. King, Possession of Stolen Firearms, Louisiana 2014

Lafayette Man Caught with 8 Stolen Firearms in His Home

A Lafayette man is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to possessing 8 stolen firearms in his home. Rico D. King, 39, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen firearms before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik.

Agents with the ATF, FBI, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force conducted the investigation, which led to a search warrant at King's residence in September 2014. During the search, agents found King in possession of 8 stolen firearms, including a .26-06 caliber rifle, two .25-06 caliber rifles, a .410 gauge shotgun, two .12 gauge shotguns, a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and a .270 caliber rifle.

The victims of the burglaries reported all 8 firearms as stolen. King's guilty plea is a significant blow to the community, as the possession of stolen firearms is a serious crime that can put innocent lives at risk.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide program designed to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms laws. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert C. Abendroth and Kelly P. Uebinger are handling the case.

King is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, but he faces up to 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The exact date of the sentencing hearing has not been set.

The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping our communities safe from violence and crime. The possession of stolen firearms is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences, and we will continue to work tirelessly to enforce our laws and protect our citizens.

In this case, Rico D. King, 39, of Lafayette, was found guilty of one count of possession of stolen firearms. The case is a result of an investigation by multiple agencies, including the ATF, FBI, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force.

Defendant's Name: Rico D. King

Criminal Charges: Possession of Stolen Firearms

City and State: Lafayette, Louisiana

Exact Date of Crime: September 2014

Sentence or Outcome: Rico D. King pleaded guilty and faces up to 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/lafayette-man-pleads-guilty-possessing-8-stolen-firearms-home