Angelina County felon sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun violations

BEAUMONT, Texas - A Lufkin man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

John Richard Burch, Jr., 40, was found guilty by a jury on August 16, 2023, of four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and intent to distribute on a premises where children are present. Burch was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 8, 2024.

According to information presented in court, in early 2022, law enforcement conducted an investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring at Burch's Lufkin residence. During the execution of a search warrant, investigators seized a large amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple digital scales used to weigh narcotics, small plastic baggies used to package methamphetamine, a methamphetamine bong, and a total of nine firearms. The firearms included a semi-automatic rifle and a gun reported stolen in Livingston as well as a fully loaded thirty round magazine. Small children, who resided at the residence, where present during the search.

Further investigation revealed Burch has a previous felony conviction for theft and a conviction for assault family violence and as a convicted felon, is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald S. Carter and Lauren Gaston.