Washington Parish Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Charges

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JONATHAN LEWIS, age 39, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 25, 2023, to serve three concurrent sentences of 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine (Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C)) and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8)), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

LEWIS was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 per count.

According to court records, law enforcement officials made two controlled and video recorded purchases of drugs from LEWIS. When they arrested LEWIS, he possessed a firearm that was contained in a satchel. A search of social media sites revealed pictures of LEWIS with the same satchel and firearm dancing in the background of a rap video.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Bogalusa Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.