Lafayette Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Felon-in-Possession Firearm Offense

LAFAYETTE - On July 29, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., sentenced Thaddaeus W. Paul, 33, of Lafayette, to 96 months in federal prison after his conviction for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

According to court documents, Lafayette Police Department (LPD) officers conducted a lawful traffic stop on January 23, 2025, on a vehicle in which Paul was a passenger. Officers located Paul in the backseat in possession of a satchel bag containing a loaded semiautomatic SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol, crack cocaine and marijuana. Paul admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a prior felony offense punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

The Lafayette Police Department investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey N. Stelly with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Stewart and Tanya Broussard.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00328.

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