Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Shreveport felon pleads guilty to possessing pistol while still on supervised release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty last week to possessing a pistol even though he was still on supervised release and had been convicted of several felonies.
Derrick D. Morris, 36, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, Morris was arrested on August 4, 2017 at a gas station in Shreveport on a warrant for violating his supervised release. Officers found Morris with a Glock, Model 26, 9 mm pistol in the front seat area of the car. Morris was convicted in 2003 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He additionally has two prior felony convictions by the State of Louisiana.
Morris faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 22, 2018.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Session announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. is prosecuting the case.