Project Safe Neighborhoods Cases Result in the Conviction of Three Shreveport Men and the Removal of Five Firearms Possessed Illegally
SHREVEPORT, La. – Three men from Shreveport, Louisiana have been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms, United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced. Chief United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. has sentenced two of the men, LilTerrence Pierce, 27, and Keyon Coleman, 19. Pierce was sentenced to 87 months (12 years, 3 months) in prison, and Coleman was sentenced to 30 months (2 years, 6 months) in prison. Both men will serve 3 years of supervised release following their release from prison.
On or about July 20, 2021, a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for traffic violations, including speeding and expired inspection registration. Pierce was the driver of the vehicle and Coleman was seated in the back passenger side. During the encounter, the deputy conducted a lawful search of the vehicle and recovered three firearms, including a FNH .45 caliber pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, a Palmetto State Armory 5.56 caliber pistol loaded with 41 rounds of ammunition, as well as a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition. One of the firearms had been reported stolen. Pierce admitted to possessing the firearms, knowing that he was prohibited from doing so due to being a convicted felon. Coleman admitted that he purchased the stolen firearm with a loaded, extended magazine off the streets for a fraction of the retail price, knowing that it was likely to have been stolen.
Pierce has prior felony convictions for illegal use of a weapon (January 2012 and April 2018) and simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling (May 2012 and October 2013) and knew that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
In an unrelated case, Darrien Demarqez Johnson, 29, was sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. On May 12, 2021, troopers with the Louisiana State Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and Johnson was a passenger. After the stop, Johnson fled on foot carrying a Saiga rifle and a backpack containing a Beretta pistol. During the foot chase, Johnson tossed the backpack and rifle but they were recovered by troopers a short time later. Johnson was later arrested and charged with possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He had previously been convicted of domestic abuse battery in 2010 and 2018 and was therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Johnson was charged and pleaded guilty on February 11, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
