Tylius Arceneaux, Illegal Firearms Possession, Louisiana 2021

LAFAYETTE, La. – A 35-year-old Lafayette man has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, a crime that is prohibited for individuals with felony convictions like Tylius Arceneaux.

According to court documents, Arceneaux was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Lafayette on July 7, 2021. At the time of the crash, he was in possession of a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine loaded with approximately 23 rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement officers discovered that Arceneaux had numerous felony convictions, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Arceneaux admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm, knowing that he was prohibited from doing so. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 5, 2024. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lafayette Police Department, with the prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.

Arceneaux’s sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release after his prison term. This is a stark reminder that individuals with felony convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, and law enforcement will continue to crack down on those who disregard this law.

In a separate case, Kiari Robinson, 35, of Crowley, Louisiana, was also sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Robinson was charged in an indictment with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and pleaded guilty to the charge on September 4, 2024. On November 11, 2022, narcotics agents working with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle run a stop sign and activated their emergency lights. The driver, identified as Robinson, failed to stop for law enforcement and fled at a high rate of speed, leading to a subsequent traffic stop.

When deputies approached Robinson’s vehicle, they observed a black Glock handgun with an extended magazine sitting on the driver’s side floorboard. A subsequent search of Robinson’s cell phone revealed photos of him holding the seized firearm. He admitted to possessing the gun, knowing he was prohibited from doing so, at his guilty plea. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, with the prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.

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