FOX 8 News received this press release from the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday afternoon:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -LEE EVERIDGE, age 33, a resident of Chalmette, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Susie Morgan to 48 months in prison for illegally possessing firearm ammunitions in New Orleans, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Morgan ordered that EVERIDGE be placed on three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
EVERIDGE pleaded guilty on August 15, 2012. According to the factual basis, on June 16, 2012, Special Agent (S/A) David Taylor for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), clad in plainclothes, was working the Great Southern Gun & Knife Show at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana. S/A Taylor observed an individual, later identified as Lee EVERIDGE, looking at handguns and talking on a cell phone. After EVERIDGE and a male associate looked at several handguns, but did not purchase any, S/A Taylor then observed EVERIDGE and his associate walk over to the ammunition counter where EVERIDGE purchased two laser lights, an extended pistol magazine, and an assortment of ammunition.
Based on what he observed and the items EVERIDGE purchased, S/A Taylor then contacted law enforcement agents who were positioned outside the Pontchartrain Center and instructed them to conduct surveillance on EVERIDGE and his male associate as they exited the Pontchartrain Center.
EVERIDGE and his associate were observed entering a vehicle in the parking lot. With his associate in the front passenger seat, EVERIDGE drove the vehicle southbound on Williams Blvd. In addition to observing EVERIDGE's vehicle's improperly displayed license plate, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (JPSO) deputy observed EVERIDGE texting while driving the vehicle. The deputy then made a traffic stop on the vehicle and approached the driver's side window and spoke with EVERIDGE. As he spoke to EVERIDGE through the open driver's side window, the deputy observed a clear box of ammunition in the console between the front seats of the vehicle. The deputy then ordered EVERIDGE step outside the vehicle and, having already seen the ammunition in the vehicle, placed EVERIDGE in handcuffs and Mirandized him. A search of the vehicle yielded the bag carried by EVERIDGE from the gun show which contained one small box of PMC .25 caliber ammunition (50 rounds), a small box of Aguila 9mm ammunition (50 rounds), and one box of Federal .40 caliber ammunition (20 rounds). EVERIDGE also admitted to deputies that he had previously been convicted of armed robbery in 1996 and had just been released from parole in 2011. As a convicted felon, EVERIDGE was legally precluded from possessing any ammunitions or firearms.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and deputies from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters of the Violent Crime Unit.
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