SHREVEPORT, LA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Recardo Catrell Pierce, 22, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph announced.

According to the guilty plea, a Shreveport police officer observed Pierce exit an apartment and noticed a black handgun tucked in the front waistband of his shorts as he walked toward a parked car.  When the officer approached the vehicle, Pierce attempted to exit the vehicle.  As Pierce was climbing out of the vehicle through the door window, the firearm fell out of his pants.  After chasing Pierce for about 300 yards, the officer apprehended him and took him back to the scene where the car had been and secured the dropped weapon, a Springfield Armory, Model: SA-XD, 9 by 19-caliber pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Pierce is a felon who was convicted of simple burglary on February 10, 2016 in Bossier Parish and was sentenced to six years in prison and five years of probation.  Under federal law, felons are not allowed to possess firearms.

Pierce faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set the sentencing date for June 18, 2019.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford is prosecuting the case.