Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Federal Firearms Case

MONROE, La. –  A federal jury that was seated in Monroe this week returned a guilty verdict last night against Maurice Mitchell, 42, of Monroe, for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial. 

According to evidence presented at trial, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a mini storage facility in West Monroe on January 8, 2023, to follow up on a complaint received about a possible burglary in progress at that location. Deputies arrived on the scene in less than a minute after receiving the call and upon their arrival, immediately located two individuals near the storage units. Mitchell was one of the individuals they encountered and when he saw deputies, he immediately fled the scene riding a bicycle. Deputies ordered Mitchell to stop and as he was riding away, drove his bicycle into a culvert area and fell over, but Mitchell got up and began running. After a short pursuit, deputies were able to take Mitchell into custody. 

Deputies conducted a search of Mitchell and found a small bag tied to the front end of the bicycle which contained a loaded .38 caliber revolver with five rounds of ammunition in the cylinder. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) testified at trial that the firearm seized from Mitchell was test fired and found to be a working firearm which had traveled in interstate commerce. Mitchell was charged in an indictment on August 7, 2024, with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Mitchell has a lengthy criminal history including prior felony convictions for attempting to disarm a peace officer (2017), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of oxycodone, cocaine and marijuana and resisting an office by flight on foot (2015), and possession of cocaine (2008). 

After deliberating for nearly five hours, the jury returned the guilty verdict against Mitchell for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  He now faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.  Sentencing has been set for July 31, 2025.

The case was investigated by the ATF and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Semmes and Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.

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