Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm
LAFAYETTE, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Austin Hack, 24, of Lafayette, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Michael J. Juneau to 26 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on firearms charges.
Hack was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 18, 2020 and charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 6, 2021, Hack pleaded guilty to the charge. This case was initiated on January 25, 2019 when officers with the Lafayette Police Department arrested Hack on outstanding arrest warrants on unrelated matters. Before his arrest, Hack was seen driving a silver Mercedes Benz vehicle and had parked it at a residence on Sonny Street in Lafayette. Law enforcement officers surrounded the residence and demanded Hack to come out of the residence. He eventually complied and officers obtained a search warrant and conducted a search of the vehicle he had been driving. Inside the vehicle officers found a revolver loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition, as well as 20 additional rounds of ammunition. Hack admitted to law enforcement officers that the firearm was his and he had purchased it off the street.
As an individual having been previously convicted of a felony, Hack knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His prior felony conviction is for illegal possession of a stolen firearm (2018).
The ATF and Lafayette Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel prosecuted the case.
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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