U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
Western District of Louisiana

United States Courthouse
300 Fannin Street, Suite 3201
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
(318) 676-3600

United States Courthouse
800 Lafayette Street, Suite 2200
Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
(337) 262-6618

www.justice.gov/usao/law

For Immediate Release

June 3, 2010

Arrests Made on Federal Firearms and State Charges

ATF Operation: Free Trade

Shreveport, La. — Federal and state law enforcement agents fanned out across Shreveport this morning to serve arrest warrants resulting from Operation: Free Trade, a seven-month undercover sting operation focused on gun and drug violations, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced. Five defendants were arrested on federal charges, while an additional nine defendants were arrested on state charges. A listing of the defendants facing federal charges is attached. More arrests are expected.

Operation: Free Trade operated a storefront in Shreveport, Louisiana. Undercover law enforcement agents posing as store employees purchased a total of 40 firearms, some of which were sold to them by convicted felons, some of which were stolen or had obliterated serial numbers. In addition, in some cases the undercover agents made multiple purchases of crack and powder cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, and illegal prescription drugs.

All federal defendants will make an initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Hornsby. Those arrested on state charges will be processed through the Caddo Parish District Court. Operation Free Trade was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, partnered with the Shreveport Police Department, Louisiana State Police, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. The United States Marshal Service assisted in serving arrest warrants this morning.

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