Shreveport Reporter

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced today that April Nicole Poitras, 45, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has entered a guilty plea in federal court. Poitras appeared before United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., and pleaded guilty to two counts of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.

According to information presented in court, on August 15, 2023, a Cessna 172L flying at approximately 3,500 feet over Caddo Parish, Louisiana was illuminated by a green laser from the ground. Law enforcement officers responded to the area by vehicle and helicopter. While responding to the scene, the police helicopter, an Airbus H125, was also illuminated by a green laser from the ground. With assistance from the police helicopter, a deputy with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office located Poitras standing in a yard holding a laser pointer.

Poitras admitted to knowingly aiming the laser pointer at both aircraft and their flight paths. She purchased the laser pointer and admitted to aiming it at several aircraft that night.

Poitras faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Blanchard Police Department and Baltimore Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg.