Baton Rouge Man Convicted in Federal Court of Illegally Possessing Five Firearms and Ammunition

United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced today that DOUGLAS D. CHENEVERT III, a 40-year old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been convicted of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.  As a result of his conviction, CHENEVERT now faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison, significant fines and a period of supervised release.

In a hearing before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly Dick on June 20, 2019, CHENEVERT pled guilty to possessing: a Smith and Wesson, model SD9VE, 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol; thirteen (13) 9mm caliber Winchester cartridges; an Ithaca, 12 gauge shotgun; a Berretta ARX Model 160, .22 caliber rifle; a Ruger Model AR556 .223 caliber rifle; and a Taurus Judge .410 gauge/.45 Long Colt Caliber pistol.  CHENEVERT had previously been convicted of simple burglary in 1998 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

On July 14, 2018, Baton Rouge City Police responded to a burglary at a cell phone shop on North Foster Drive.  An officer observed two men enter the shop.  As the two men left the shop in a stolen pickup truck, the officer attempted a traffic stop.  The driver fled and, after a short chase, wrecked the truck.  Both men then fled on foot.  A canine officer and his dog quickly apprehended CHENEVERT, the driver of the pickup truck.  The officers found the Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol in CHENEVERT’s clothing, loaded with 13 rounds of Winchester ammunition.

A residence located on East Brookstown, which CHENEVERT used as a rental property, was searched.  Officers found and recovered the additional four firearms.  At the hearing, CHENEVERT admitted he knowingly had constructive possession of the firearms and had the power to exercise dominion and control over the firearms stored in the residence.  

U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “Unfortunately, guns are possessed and used unlawfully during the commission of other crimes.  This case is yet another example of the dangers our local law enforcement officers face when they confront felons in possession of a firearm.  My office is strongly committed to enforcing our nation’s gun laws.  I commend our prosecutor and our federal and local partners for their outstanding work in obtaining this conviction.”

This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baton Rouge City Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III is prosecuting the case.