Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

MONROE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants were sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty in four separate cases involving drug trafficking and firearms charges.

Leslie Jason Fulwiler, 50, of West Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On or about January 28, 2021, Fulwiler pawned two firearms in Minden, Louisiana. Just one day later, Fulwiler went back to the pawn shop to try and retrieve the firearms he had pawned but could not do so due to the fact that he is a convicted felon. Further investigation by agents with the West Monroe Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that the firearms Fulwiler had pawned were in fact stolen. Fulwiler has prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and burglary and knew that he could not possess a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. The case was prosecuted by the ATF and West Monroe Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick.

Dantrell Rayshon Marshall, 23, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on firearms charges. On August 31, 2022, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for having an expired Louisiana temporary license tag. When deputies approached the vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and asked both the driver and passenger, who was later identified as Marshall, out of the vehicle. They consented to a search of the vehicle and deputies discovered approximately 42 grams of suspected marijuana and a Springfield Armory 9mm firearm loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition partially protruding from the front passenger seat. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined that the firearm was operational and had traveled through interstate commerce. Marshall was indicted September 28, 2022 and charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty to the charge November 21, 2022. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath.

Keith Jerome Mosley, 50, of Edwards, Mississippi, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into drug trafficking activities in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. On or about September 8, 2020, troopers with the Louisiana State Police stopped the vehicle Mosley was driving after learning that he had agreed to sell methamphetamine to an individual. Law enforcement officers found a plastic bag hidden in the vehicle which contained not less than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Mosley pleaded guilty to the charge on November 21, 2022. The case was investigated by the DEA and Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten.

Adrian Dion Coleman, 24, of Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Coleman pleaded guilty October 31, 2022 to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These charges stemmed from a traffic stop conducted on January 18, 2021 by officers with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office in which Coleman was a passenger in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a Taurus 9mm pistol on the seat of the car where Coleman had been sitting. Coleman also had 12 individual clear bags of marijuana on his person, containing a total of 48 grams. Coleman admitted the drugs and firearm were his. The firearm was tested by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and it was determined that the firearm was operational and had traveled through interstate commerce. The case was investigated by the ATF and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Weber.

“The sentences handed down in each of these cases are the result of outstanding work and coordination between our federal and local law enforcement agencies in the Monroe area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We will continue working together with these law enforcement agencies to make the streets of Monroe safer.”