Illegal Possession of Drugs and Firearms Send Two Shreveport Men to Federal Prison
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two defendants were sentenced today by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to time in federal prison for their role in two separate cases related to drug and firearms crimes.
Dale Wayne Green, Jr., 39, of Shreveport, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Green went to trial in April 2021 and was convicted by a federal jury of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Evidence presented at the trial revealed that on June 11, 2019, the Shreveport/Caddo Narcotics Task Force received information that illegal narcotics were being sold at a residence on Harrison Street in Shreveport. Law enforcement agents began conducting surveillance and observed multiple vehicles parked in and around the residence, as well as suspicious activity by individuals visiting the residence. Agents approached the residence and observed Green drop an item on the ground and walk away from the area to the rear of a vehicle in the driveway. They later discovered the dropped item to be cocaine in a sandwich bag which contained individually wrapped packaged bags containing cocaine. Green also had a large amount of cash and car keys in his pocket that went to a car parked across the street. A K-9 officer conducted a sniff search of the vehicle and the K-9 officer alerted to the presence of narcotics. Green gave consent to search the vehicle and agents found a loaded handgun in the console. Also found in the car were numerous personal documents belonging to Green.
Green’s previous felony conviction was for manslaughter in Caddo Parish in 2002. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
The ATF, Shreveport Police Department and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon B. Brown and Mike T. Shannon prosecuted the case.
Miquon Gerrod Rachal, 29, of Bossier City, Louisiana, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 18, 2020, Rachal was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge on February 24, 2021. According to information presented to the court, on July 6, 2020, Louisiana State Police Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for having flashing purple illuminated lamps on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The State Trooper asked the driver to exit the vehicle and the driver was unable to locate his drivers license or proof of insurance. The State Trooper noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and Rachal admitted to smoking it. The vehicle was searched, and the trooper found a small amount of marijuana and a loaded semi-automatic pistol under the driver’s seat.
Rachal admitted that the gun was his and knew that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from having it. Rachal has prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana (2012), simple robbery (2013), and attempted possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon (2015).
The ATF and Louisiana State Police conducted this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille Gilreath prosecuted the case.
