Shreveport Reporter

United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown has announced the sentencing of Derrick Dewayne Swafford, a 30-year-old from Pineville, Louisiana. Swafford received a sentence of 152 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell.

The incident leading to Swafford's arrest occurred on July 18, 2021, when an officer from the Alexandria Police Department attempted to stop his vehicle due to reckless driving. Swafford fled the scene but was eventually apprehended. Officers detected the smell of marijuana from his vehicle and obtained a search warrant. Inside, they discovered a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Swafford's criminal record includes previous convictions for aggravated assault with a firearm in 2019, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018, and possession of controlled substances along with obstruction of justice in 2013.

He was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Swafford pleaded guilty to these charges on September 28, 2022.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Alexandria Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. PSN focuses on targeting violent criminals through partnerships at various governmental levels to create effective strategies for safer neighborhoods.