Convicted Felon Sentenced to 12+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

ALEXANDRIA, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Derrick Dewayne Swafford, 30, of Pineville, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 152 months (12 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

On July 18, 2021, an officer with the Alexandria Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle Swafford was driving after the officer observed him driving recklessly. When the officer ordered Swafford from the vehicle, he fled from the traffic stop but was ultimately taken into custody. Once officers were able to take Swafford into custody, they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and obtained a warrant to search it. Inside the vehicle, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. A review of his record revealed that Swafford was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, including aggravated assault with a firearm in 2019, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018, possession of controlled substances and obstruction of justice in 2013.

Swafford was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to the charges on September 28, 2022.

The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.

This case is 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.

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