MONROE – On September 21, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced three defendants in separate federal firearms and narcotics cases committed in Northeast Louisiana. Michael D. Lynch, 40, of Monroe, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person, followed by three years of supervised release, after his May 21, 2026, guilty plea.Roy Tullos, 46, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, followed by three years of supervised release, after his February 20, 2026, guilty plea.Christian J. South, 22, of Newellton, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun followed by one year of supervised release, after his May 21, 2026, guilty plea.U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.LYNCHAccording to court documents, Monroe Police Department (MPD) officers responded to reports of gunfire on a local street on May 25, 2025. Surveillance footage showed Lynch’s vehicle in the area. Officers later located Lynch, searched his vehicle, and recovered a 9mm round of ammunition, a loaded Taurus G2C pistol under the passenger seat, and a loaded extended magazine. Lynch admitted possessing the firearm and ammunition knowing that his prior conviction for domestic violence made it unlawful for him to do so.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and MPD investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Y. Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.TULLOSAccording to court documents, members of the Metro Narcotics Unit of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) executed an arrest warrant on Tullos at a Monroe-area hotel on April 19, 2024. Inside the room, officers located fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, baggies, and $1,448 in cash. Agents also recovered two loaded pistols—a Taurus “The Judge” and an HK P30SK 9mm, both confirmed through testing to be functional firearms. Tullos admitted possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute and also acknowledged he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.The case was investigated by the OPSO. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Y. Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. SOUTHAccording to court documents, law enforcement responded to a shooting in Tensas Parish in which South and his vehicle were struck by gunfire on July 22, 2024. While waiting for South’s vehicle to be towed, officers discovered a discarded Glock 19 equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device on the roadway. South was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and a matching 9mm casing was located inside. He had previously been seen on social media holding a similar firearm. DNA testing produced a DNA profile on the weapon linking South to the weapon. The case was investigated by ATF and Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel S. Crichton with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot.These prosecutions were part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges…
Source: U.S. Department of Justice