LUTCHER, LA – Tyki Clayton, 21, of Lutcher, Louisiana, will spend the next three years behind bars after being sentenced for possessing an illegal machine gun. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo handed down the 36-month sentence on February 21, following Clayton’s guilty plea to violating Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
The case unfolded on March 28, 2022, when a St. James Parish deputy pulled over a vehicle Clayton was riding in after it rolled through a stop sign without fully stopping. During the traffic stop, the deputy observed Clayton reaching down between his legs towards a backpack. A subsequent search revealed more than just personal belongings.
Authorities discovered a Glock firearm modified with an auto-sear, transforming it into a fully functional machine gun. A loaded magazine was also recovered from the vehicle. Clayton, already wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant, was immediately detained. The discovery turned a simple traffic violation into a serious federal weapons charge.
Federal prosecutors highlighted the danger posed by illegally modified firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit led the prosecution. The sentencing also includes three years of supervised release following Clayton’s prison term, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office jointly investigated the case. The prosecution was quick to point out that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the country.
PSN, according to the Department of Justice, focuses on fostering trust between law enforcement and communities, supporting violence prevention programs, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and meticulously tracking results. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that illegal weapon possession carries significant federal penalties, and that agencies will continue to collaborate to keep neighborhoods safe.
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