Description: Memphis, Tennessee criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with railroad burglary.

On March 4, 2022, agents with CSX Transportation observed several people breaking into railroad cars containing retail merchandise destined for California. Agents apprehended one of the suspects, Lawrence Anthony, age 35,, who was also found to be in possession of a Glock .40 caliber pistol. The firearm had been modified with a small switch mechanism on the rear of the slide, allowing the weapon to fire fully automatically. The other suspects fled the scene after stealing merchandise worth more than $7,500 from the railroad cars.

On August 18, 2022, Memphis Police Department officers responded to a complaint that liquor was being sold from a local residence. Upon entering the home, the officers found Anthony and discovered several boxes of liquor that had been taken during a business burglary a few hours before. Officers searched the residence and found a Taurus 9mm pistol, which Anthony admitted belonged to him. Anthony was arrested by the Memphis Police Department.

Anthony pled guilty to a four-count indictment on July 20, which charged him with aiding and abetting burglary along with firearms offenses stemming from his March and August arrests. Anthony is a convicted felon with a criminal history of committing robbery, theft, and burglary.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Memphis Police Department and CSX Transportation. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

18:922(g)(1) UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC.
(1s)

18:922(o) and 924(a)(2) VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(2s)

18:2117 and 2 BREAKING/ENTERING A CARRIER FACILITY
(3s)



Whoever breaks the seal or lock of any railroad car, vessel, aircraft, motortruck, wagon or other vehicle or of any pipeline system, containing interstate or foreign shipments of freight or express or other property, or enters any such vehicle or pipeline system with intent in either case to commit larceny therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. If the offense involves a pre-retail medical product (as defined in section 670) the punishment for the offense shall be the same as the punishment for an offense under section 670 unless the punishment under this section is greater.

A judgment of conviction or acquittal on the merits under the laws of any State shall be a bar to any prosecution under this section for the same act or acts. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to occupy the field in which provisions of this section operate to the exclusion of State laws on the same subject matter, nor shall any provision of this section be construed as invalidating any provision of State law unless such provision is inconsistent with any of the purposes of this section or any provision thereof.


18:922(g)(1) UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC.
(4s)

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 66 months in prison.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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