Defendants sentenced in a multi-state vehicle theft, obliterating vehicle identification numbers, and identity theft conspiracy and additional gun charges (DOJ)

U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced the last of four defendants in a multi-state conspiracy to transport a stolen motor vehicle, altering, removing and obliterating a vehicle identification number, possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices and conspiracy to sell a firearm to a conviction felon.

Dennis Lloyd Sizemore, age 55, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and Robert Gregory Brazell, age 41, of Lafayette, Louisiana, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. The Court further sentenced both men to serve three years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment and ordered Sizemore to pay $92,500 in restitution and Brazell to pay $95,000 in restitution.

In imposing the sentences, the Court found that Sizemore, Brazell and their co-defendants, Chrisopher Don Byerley and Adrienne King, carried out a coordinated and complex operation extending across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, in which the group stole, then used or sold the stolen and altered vehicles, including tractors, excavators, forklifts, and a pickup truck, with a total value of over $250,000.

The conspiracy involved tampering with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), the use of a chop shop, fraudulent documentation, false business fronts and stolen identities to sell stolen equipment and further conceal their criminal activities

An investigation of a shoplifting incident in the Juban Crossing Shopping Center led Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office detectives to uncover an unregistered firearm silencer and 9mm pistol from a stolen pickup truck being operated by Byerley and King. Additional other documents, emails, text messages and photos led law enforcement to uncover the conspiracy and far-reaching criminal enterprise.

Byerley was recently sentenced to 115 months in federal prison following his convictions in this conspiracy and for firearm violations. King was sentenced to 48 months.

U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, Saint Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, Saint Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Iberia Sheriff's Department, and Lafayette Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton III and M. Patricia Jones led the prosecution.

Updated September 28, 2026