According to U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Dennis Earl Smith, Jr., 34, of Prentiss, was sentenced on January 29, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett, to the maximum penalty of 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Smith was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

Dennis Earl Smith, Jr. and two co-defendants broke into the residence of a federal firearms licensee and stole 46 firearms including an antique 30 caliber 1919 Browning machine gun, a Thompson submachine gun and five other machine guns.

“This case illustrates the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels working together to get dangerous criminals off the streets and make our communities a safer place to live,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.

“Burglary and theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers are considered to be a top investigative priority for ATF because these brazen acts are a precursor for future violent crimes,” stated  ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Phillip Durham. “Let these harsh sentences be a warning for anyone considering this type of criminal behavior. ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping the community safe and will not rest until the crime is solved and the stolen firearms are recovered.”

The case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams.