Third Defendant Convicted in Connection With Gun Store Burglaries

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson announced today that the third charged defendant has been convicted of engaging in a scheme to burglarize gun stores. O’NEAL THOMPSON, age 21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick to conspiring to steal firearms, possess and sell stolen firearms, and receive and possess unregistered machine guns and silencers. He also pled guilty to stealing firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. He will be sentenced at a later date.

During his guilty plea hearing, THOMPSON admitted to conspiring with CHARLES K. EVANS and GENO EUGENE LYONS to steal firearms from Hebert Guns in Prairieville, and Meaux Guns in Baton Rouge. THOMPSON admitted that in July of 2015, he, EVANS, and LYONS unsuccessfully attempted to steal firearms from Hebert Guns, then drove to Meaux Guns, where they forcibly entered and stole approximately forty‐three (43) firearms, including pistols, rifles, machineguns, and silencers. All three then split up the firearms in order to sell them. THOMPSON subsequently sold his share of the firearms. EVANS and LYONS have previously pled guilty for their involvement in the attempted burglary of Hebert Guns, the burglary of Meaux Guns, and the burglary of Bowie Outfitters in Baton Rouge in June of 2015.

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated: “Prosecuting offenders who violate the federal gun laws is a top priority for this office and the U.S. Department of Justice generally. Stolen guns and armed felons fuel the violent crime plaguing our communities and threaten our safety and security. I applaud the united efforts of the various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors in this important matter.”

This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with substantial assistance from the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Crosswell and Peter Smyczek.