Beaumont Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation

BEAUMONT, TX—A 32-year-old Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm during a bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Donald Ray Slaughter pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2010, to possession of a firearm during a violent crime and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, on July 10, 2010, Slaughter entered the Bank of America on Dowlen Road in Beaumont armed with a gun, wearing a baseball cap, and using a bandana to disguise his face. Slaughter demanded cash from the teller and then fled with $6800. Slaughter was arrested on July 16, 2010 after he tried to flee from officers, striking one in the process. At the time of his arrest, Slaughter was in possession of crack cocaine and several hundred dollars in cash. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 5, 2010.

This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws.

PSN is a Department of Justice nationwide initiative that combines traditional law enforcement activities with community-based support and intervention programs. The two primary goals of the PSN initiative is to reduce and prevent violent crimes and to help past offenders adjust and re-enter the community. Founded in 2001, PSN is the nation’s largest and most visible effort to combat violent crime and criminal gang activity at the community level by increasing coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement and the community.

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonetta Stancu.